The Atlantic Slave Trade had numerous direct consequences, one of which was the establishment of a deeply entrenched system of racial inequality in the Americas. It facilitated the forced migration of millions of Africans and resulted in significant demographic, social, and economic changes in societies on both sides of the Atlantic. The profitability of slavery laid the groundwork for plantations, especially in the Southern United States, which contributed to the region's social structure, economy, and future conflicts, including the Civil War. Ultimately, the impacts of this trade are still felt today in systemic racism and social disparities.