The Northerners were the ones with the slave ships who brought them across the Atlantic in the Triangular trade. New England -->Rum, tobacco, etc.--> England -->Textiles, etc. -->Africa-->slaves -->Americas--> Rum, etc---->New England, etc or some variation with the ships sometimes embarking from England -->Africa-->Americas There were a few routes but they involved ships owned mostly by men in New England.Most of the ships left from Newport, R.I. but other New England ports also served.