What kinds of western music influenced the african's music to make the Blues?

Music Question- The Blues

Its was mainly the christan religion and European folk that influenced the blues. Christianity created the spiruitals that were sung by slaves and the European Folk created the chord progressions used in BLues.

I agree with the above answer.

Also many of the rhythms we heard were from the Caribbean. Just listen to "Killing Floor" and you'll get that rumba-type beat that came from there.

Also, early American folk music and its instruments were a huge influence on the blues sound. We wouldn't have the harmonica unless poor Germans and Easter Europeans hadn't mingled with slaves on the docks at the ports.

I agree with the above.

Also, it is my opinion that the French impressionistic school of the late 1800's (Chopin, Debussy - and any of those cats messing around with quartal and quintal harmonies) influenced all the music around the NOLA delta - Jazz especially, but also Blues and Cajun.

western swing bob wills,etc