Jamaica was a Spanish colony for 140 years. Subsequently in 1655 the English came to subdue the island from the Spaniards. The English maintained control of Jamaica for over 300 years. The island produced a wealth of money for the British West Indian proprietors due to the country’s ability to yield sugar and rum. Harvesting, planting and processing sugar cane was particularly grueling, which meant that many planters depended on the West African slaves, which were purchased through the transatlantic slave trade, to maintain their property. Because of the brutality of the white plantation owners towards the slaves, several munities erupted throughout the island. These revolts did not go unnoticed by the British people. The slave rebellions in Jamaica played a crucial part in propelling the anti-slavery movements in Britain because of the sheer number of rebellions that took place, the bloodshed and unrest among the enslaved Africans.
The geography of Jamaica was not only suitable for plantations, but it also provided ample hiding places for many of the escaped ex-slaves. These “free” men and women descended from the former Spanish settlers and established themselves in the mountains; this community of runaways were known as the Maroons from the Spanish word ‘cimarrones’, meaning ‘runaway slave’. The First Maroon War in Jamaica lasted for roughly nine years, starting in 1790. This was one of the first rebellions that caught the attention of British authorities, because the planters feared the power of the maroons and how they could threaten the prosperity of their sugar industry. The illustration called, Pacification with the Maroon Negros, by Agostino Brunyas in 1801 is an apparent depiction of the meeting of the Maroon communit...
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...ked the eruption of the rebellion witch swept many parishes on December 27, 1831. The rebels seized control over large areas of territory. With the abolition of slavery movement in Britain intensifying, this was great timing for an uprising. Although the slave’s intent was not violence but to press for freedom and a fair wage, fighting broke out between over 20,000 unarmed rebels and the British planters militia. The houses of the planters were torched and became beacons of the rebellion.
Over two hundred slaves died and around one hundred were put on trial and later executed. Sharpe was executed in Montego Bay on the 13th of May in 1831, for leading the insurrection. Samuel Sharpe did not die in vain,
Many of the slave revolts were unsuccessful at the time because many were killed but the rebellions did catch the attention of prominent peoples in Great Britain.
A black slave had entered the State of South Carolina earlier and had incited a small but effective rebellion ...
Unfortunantly for the new leaders of the nation, they were left with many issues that challenged American ideals, including slavery. 1831 was a very pivotal year for the beginning of the abolishment of slavery. Soon after the eclipse, fear spread throughout Virginia of a possible slave rebellion. Eventhough some slave owners treated their slaves well, it did not mean they were safe from attack. On August 22, Nat Turner killed his master along with his family, the first account of slave rebellion in history. Turner’s Rebellion instilled fear in southern slave owners that a planned attack could occur at any moment (19). Thomas R. Gray, a slave owner and lawyer interviewed the slaves behind bars. He spoke with Turner for three day...
Slave insurrection occurred in a multitude of ways. Slaves practiced everyday resistance as well as planned and executed more elaborate forms of resistance. One form of resistance was strikes. During a strike Negros would flee to the swamps or forests and send back word that they would return if their demands were made. Demands would often include food, clothes, fewer beatings, shorter hours, or a new overseer. If demands were met they would return. However during the Civil War the demand of payment of wages. During this era they won “lifting themselves by their own bootstraps from chattels to wage workers”.3
The antislavery movement before 1830s was menial, partially slow and not well supported. The antislavery movement before the 1830s was the spark of fire that led to the abolitionist acts after the 1830s. Abolitionism of the 1830s and on led to a great movement in America. The division of a country came at hand, leading up to various riots white men themselves killing each other over the freeing of slaves. The subjugated Negros fighting for a true place in American society under the hands of various abolitionist leaders who gave it all to stand up for the African Americans. They were to be heard all over the union causing divisions and discomfort throughout a close to dividing nation. Abolitionist movement after the 1830s had a greater impact on the nation as a whole with a spark of the antislavery acts before the 1830s and the failure of this movement, the very well spoken and praised leaders, and the well spoken and touching propaganda against slavery.
The book Fires of Jubilee: Nat Turner’s Fierce Rebellion (New York, Ny: Harper Perennial, 1990) by Stephen B. Oates portrays a slave rebellion and uprising in the 1830’s. Oates has written many books on American history and his style of writing makes his books readable and popular. He has become a unique storyteller of his time, in his book he tells of a transformation that changed the city of South Hampton, Virginia forever, an unspeakable action heard throughout the whole nation and insurrection. What is an insurrection? It is a rebellion, revolution, mutiny and uprising, a concept that has never lost hope in African-American slaves.
...illed, either in the war or as revenge for the rebellion. An additional 13 slaves were hung, along with 3 free African Americans. If the measure of an uprising’s accomplishment was the defeat of slavery, then none of these rebellions succeeded. Slave rebellions in foreign America and the United States never accomplished such greatness of success; the importance of uprising cannot be exaggerated. The continuous threat of physical violence was that slavery would never go unrestricted. Many slaves lived as slave but before they had a free lives but ended up getting kidnapped by slave masters and entered into slave trades or auctions, were they ended being sold numerous times. Solomon Northrup in the movie 12 years a slave is a good example of how some free men became slaves and their problems with trying to cope and resist without losing their life in the meantime.
Also known as the Second Great Awakening, the Abolitionist Movement swept through the colonies in the early 1830’s. This was a movement to abolish slavery and to give blacks their freedom as citizens. Many men and women, free and enslaved, fought for this cause and many were imprisoned or even killed for speaking out. If it were not for these brave people, slavery would still exist today. The Abolitionist Movement paved the way in eradicating slavery by pursuing moral and political avenues, providing the foundation for the Underground Railroad, and creating a voice for African Americans.
Nat Turner's Rebellion was a slave rebellion that took place in Southampton County, Virginia, during August 1831. Led by Nat Turner, rebel slaves killed anywhere from 55 to 65 people, the highest number of fatalities caused by any slave uprising in the American South. The rebellion was put down within a few days, but Turner survived in hiding for more than two months afterwards. The rebellion was effectively suppressed at Belmont Plantation on the morning of August 23, 1831.
In conclusion the rebellions of 1837/38 were defeated due to a lack of public support but it opened the eyes of the British to a problem in the colonies. The British began to realize that the system within the colonies was not working and something needed to be done. If these rebellions had not happened the British would never have taken notice to the problems and who knows we could still be living under the same system. Although these rebellions failed they did succeed in getting the attention of the British and put us on the road towards responsible government in Canada and the system we now have in place.
"The Rastafarians emerge as a loosely organized inspirational group (or groups?) of men and women concerned at the plight of black people, especially the plight of those whose ancestors were forcibly removed from Africa to become the slaves of the white man on his plantations in the islands of the Caribbean"(Cashmore, 1). The English takeover of Jamaica in 1660 started the terrible beginning of the African Diaspora. Millions of Africans were stolen off of their continent and were shipped over to the Caribbean where they were fashioned to do slave labor so the Europeans could make money. Over 80 million Africans died in the process of departing to the islands. The slaves were denied any form of religion and were treated like animals. They were also denied food and were made to grow their own food so they could feed themselves. Many years went by till the slaves started to rebel. The 'Maroons' were a group of runaway slaves who started a powerful group of guerrilla warriors who lived in the most dangerous woods in Jamaica. But the Maroons gave in and signed a peace treaty in 1738 and were paid to catch the runaway slaves and became supporters of slavery.
Absentee plantation owners added to the unrest. Rebellion was common, with the forms including self mutilation, suicide and infanticide as well as escape and maroonage (whereby the slaves escaped into the hills and wooded interiors of the islands and set up potentially threatening communities of their own. See references in Wide Sargasso Sea). Jamaica holds the record for slave revolts, with serious uprisings in 1655, 1673, 1760 and continued disquiet after that. The documentation of revolts in Trinidad is less complete, but we know of at least one serious plot in 1805.
A coastal nation rich in sugar and bauxite made it profitable piece of territory to have at the time. During this time it was known as “British Guiana.” To support its abundant sugar plantations slaves were imported from Africa. Slave labor was used to support the British colonial class and work in the sugar plantations. On August 18th 1823, the Demerara Rebellion occurred where over 10,000 slaves revolted against their masters. It only lasted two days before the government quelled the resistance. Even though the nature of the protest was non-violent over 200 slaves were killed in the process and many were hung in public areas to serve as a sign to others that would attempt such actions. However, multiple reports conflict with the claim that it was non-violent and that may Africans immediately attacks their masters. It was not until 1833 with the British Slavery Abolition Act that freed these people from confinement. However, rather than give these people a place in society and allow them to work for pay, the British obtained indentured servants from India to
Black Jamaican believes they are stolen as slave by Europeans and Arab slave traders from West Africa as far as Mt. Kenya in Africa. They are taken to the Caribbean more than five hundred years ago and forgotten by their ancestors there. They also believe that they have the roots of Solomon and queen Sheba which connects them to the Ethiopian King as well as Ethiopians. Selassie does have the roots of queen Sheba’s family train.
The political and economic history of Jamaica is based upon its foundation as a slave colony. From the beginning, the colony was under Spanish rule that relied upon native slave laboring in the sugar fields. The first law to be implemented upon the island under Spanish rule was the Repartimiento, introduced by Governor Esquivel, the first governor of Jamaica. The law enabled colonists to apply for and receive special permission to use the natives for a period of time; forcing them into labors such as planting and logging (Bennett 70). Francisco de Garay, who became governor in 1514, enacted an other set of regulations called the Requermiento (The Requirement) (Bennett 70). This system was implemented with the basis that the colonists had to convert the natives to Christianity; Garay was hopeful that in doing so, the natives would “be tractable, properly maintained and live and greatly multiply” (Sherlock 70).
Situated just south of Cuba in the Caribbean Sea, Jamaica is well known as a popular tourist spot and the birthplace of reggae music. Populated initially by native Arawak Indians, who gave the island its name, “land of wood and water (Jamaica).” However, this beautiful land’s almost pristine beauty was shattered by outbursts of violence surrounding the 1980 political elections. This fighting was sparked by the people’s mistrust of the ruling socialist party at the time. The reasons for this fighting and this mistrust are not simple, they are intrinsically tied to the island nation’s history from the beginning of its colonial period five hundred years before.