How did sea merchants make a fortunes in Rhode Island?

Sea merchants made fortunes in Rhode Island primarily by participating in the triangular trade. The triangular trade involved three legs and played a crucial role in the Atlantic World between the 17th and 19th centuries:

1. Africa: Rhode Island merchants would sail their ships to Africa, where they would trade goods like rum and textiles with African traders in exchange for slaves. These enslaved Africans were then forced onto the middle leg of the journey.

2. Caribbean (and Rhode Island): The merchants would then transport these enslaved individuals across the Atlantic to the Caribbean islands or directly back to Rhode Island. Many were sold to work on sugar plantations or were traded for molasses.

3. New England: The final leg of the trade involved returning to New England, specifically Rhode Island, where the merchants would sell the molasses obtained in the Caribbean. This molasses was essential to the production of rum, a key commodity at the time, which would then be used to restart the cycle by trading it in Africa.

Through this process, merchants involved in the triangular trade were able to accumulate significant wealth, as they were involved in multiple lucrative phases of the trading cycle.