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Major
slave revolts
Debbion
Hyman, Contributor
Objectives
At
the end of the lesson, students should
be able to:
a)
Identify the key figures in the Berbice
(1763), Barbados (1816), Demerara
(1823) and Jamaica (1831) revolts.
b)
Explain the causes of any three major
slave revolts.
c)
Describe the nature and consequences
of any three major slave revolts.
Berbice
1763
Causes
a)
Inhumane treatment by white personnel
(such as managers, overseers, bookkeepers)
of the enslaved population.
b)
Inadequate provisions for daily existences
supplied on the estates - the enslaved
population had meagre rations and
whenever there were shortages they
would be adversely affected.
Nature
& Consequences
a)
The revolt began on Plantation Magdalenburg
on the Conje River on February 23,
1763.
b)
By March 1763, the revolt had spread
to the Berbice River. The enslaved
peoples were able to capture several
plantations along the river and Coffy
played an instrumental role in this
area.
c)
Coffy committed suicide in May 1763
- the fight for freedom, however,
still continued.
d)
The colony was controlled by blacks
for 10 months, showing the active
thrust by blacks to end the system
of chattel slavery.
Barbados
1816
Causes
a)
The belief by the enslaved population
that emancipation was being withheld.
b)
The failure of Barbadian planters
to accept the Slave Registration Bill.
c)
The activities of nonconformist missionaries
among the enslaved population.
Nature
& Consequences
a)
April 14, 1816 witnessed the start
of the revolt by Bussa and Jackey.
The revolt then quickly spread to
areas such as St Philip, St John and
St George.
b)
By April 15, 1816 there was the declaration
of martial law - Bussa was killed
during the fighting. More than 170
slaves were killed and more than 200
were excuted; another 100 enslaved
peoples were exiled to Sierra Leone.
c)
There was severe damage to the sugar
industry as over 20 percent
of the country's sugar crop was destroyed.
Demerara
1823
Causes
a)
Revolt began because of a rumour that
the king had sent a 'free paper' but
that the governor would not issue
it.
Nature
& Consequences
a)
Began as a non-violent affair as slaves
sought to ascertain accuracy of claims
of a 'free paper' being sent and refused
to return to work. Unrest began at
this juncture.
b)
More than 100 slaves were killed during
the fighting; several others were
executed after court martials.
Jamaica
1831
Causes
a)
Belief by the enslaved population
that their freedom was being withheld.
Slaves believed that their 'free paper'
had come from England
but that their masters were holding
them in bondage.
b)
The activities of nonconformist missionaries
among the enslaved population.
Nature
& Consequences
a)
Began as a general strike, but with
quick capture of Kensington estate
in St James, it escalated into an
open revolt. Spread to several parishes
such as Trelawny, Hanover, Westmoreland
and St Elizabeth.
b)
Last major revolt in British Caribbean
before emancipation; 100 slaves executed,
including Sharpe; 100 flogged. Several
Baptist and Moravian missionaries
persecuted as well as their churches/chapels
destroyed.
Activity
Instruction:
Answer the following questions:
1.
'No one opposed slavery more than
the slaves themselves.'
Discuss
the arguments for and against this
opinion.
2.
a) In what year did the Berbice Rebellion
occur?
b)
Who was the leader of this rebellion?
c)
State two causes of the Berbice Rebellion.
3.
List two causes of the Barbados Revolt?
4.
Provide a brief character sketch on
Samuel Sharpe.
5.
Discuss two effects the major slave
revolts had on the emancipation process.
Sources
1.
Liberties Lost: Caribbean Indigenous
Societies and Slave Systems - Hilary
Beckles & Verene Shepherd
2.
Caribbean Story, Bk 1 - William Claypole
& John Robottom
3.
Caribbean Revision History for CXC
- Peter Ashdown & Francis Humphreys
Debbion
Hyman teaches at St Hugh's High School.
Send questions and comments to kerry-ann.hepburn@gleanerjm.com
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