Slavery in the Caribbean - 2119 Words

The period of slavery was characterised primarily by one protracted war launched by those enslaved against their enslavers’ (V. Shepherd). Discuss with special reference to the anti-slavery activities of enslaved Africans. Ra’Monne Darrell Gardiner 410004250 Caribbean Civilization Professor C. Curry University of the West Indies November 23rd, 2010 â€Å"Where ever there was slavery, there was resistance† (University of the West Indies 86). Before the arrival of the first African slave ship, until the expansion of Maroon communities and the birth of Creolized Africans, slaves have resisted and resented the hostile confinements of slavery. The harsh realities of slavery left many enslaved persons feeling maladjusted to†¦show more content†¦It is important to note the reason for African slave resistance. African born slaves revolted because â€Å"Slaves born in Africa who conceived of resistance as all-out war in African style to destroy the alien plantations or separate entirely from them† (qtd in Knight 242). These slaves could still remember the freedom they once shared in their homeland and resisted in every way to regain that freedom. Many African slaves would attempt to regain that freedom by running away and forming Maroon communities. Upon arrival into the new world many slaves would run away as ano ther attempt to escape slavery; initiating another transition in slave rebellion, from African dominated to maroonage. Maroonage was a powerful expression of slave resistance because it allowed slaves to enjoy the freedom they once had or longed to have. Running away from plantations was a frequent practice. It was often attempted when there was hope of great success such as the availability of mountainous areas or dense forests. This was common in Caribbean countries such as Jamaica, Trinidad, Cuba, Hispaniola and Dominica. While in the new world, slaves had a better opportunity to achieve freedom by escaping from plantations rather than waiting to be emancipated or to be regarded as free. Maroon communities were formed and grew rapidly. This caused the ratio of White to Black to become disproportionate and strength ruled in favour of the Africans. The enslaved commonly retreated to the mountainsShow MoreRelated Caribbean Slavery Essay878 Words   |  4 PagesCaribbean Slavery Starting in the seventeenth century, the European colonization of the Caribbean changed drastically as exploration gave way to exploitation. As the great wealth that the Caribbean held became more evident to the European colonizers, a rush of profit hunters stormed the area and flooded it with slavery. The massive introduction of slavery as the major form of labor organization in the Caribbean changed social organization radically. The plantation system thrived and expanded throughRead More Slavery in the Caribbean Essay1086 Words   |  5 PagesSlavery in the Caribbean The beginning of slavery in the Caribbean can be traced back to the emergence of piracy in the 16th and 17th centuries. This eventually led to the promotion of slave trading and sugar plantations. While enslaved on the sugar plantations, slaves were treated very poorly. Plantation owners treated their slaves so poorly that most were undernourished and diseased. Slaves were even forced to work on their spare time to provide for their own needs. Needless to say, slavesRead MoreSlavery On The Islands Of The Caribbean890 Words   |  4 PagesSlavery has existed throughout history and has yet to become fully extinct. Slavery is when someone else (human) has ownership of another human. In the ancient world slavery was very popular and not perceived as something wrong. The main source of slaves was prisoners of war. Slavery become a cycle, a slave’s children also became slaves and so on, it was hereditary. Some people sold their children or themselves into slavery to escape starvati on. As society became more advanced, slavery became a hugeRead Moreimpacts of slavery in the caribbean2584 Words   |  11 Pages How did the African slavery impact the Caribbean region between1640-1985? Introduction When the Europeans switched from tobacco to sugar cultivation, the plantation needed more lands and more labour. The labour present came from the Tainos, whose population decreased from abuse, and could not meet the labour demands. The Europeans brought free labourers from Europe, but they could not be forced to work under the conditions demanded by the encomenderos. The church suggested the use ofRead MoreEssay on History of Slavery in the Caribbean720 Words   |  3 PagesHistory of Slavery in the Caribbean The institution of slavery has played a major role in the history, and the shaping of the Caribbean. Therefore, in order to truly understand the Caribbean one must completely understand slavery itself. Slavery can be defined as belonging to a person, or being treated like a piece of property, and not having any individual freedom This was essentially the life many Africans lived for many centuries in the Caribbean . The master’s had total freedom and controlRead MoreSlavery Vs Indentureship in the caribbean1951 Words   |  8 PagesHistory SBA Slavery and Indentureship can be described as two of the most horrible historic happenings to occur. They share numerous differences as well as Similarities, which make us, question whether Indentureship was disguised as a form of slavery or not. Chattel slavery, otherwise known as traditional slavery is a system under which people are treated as property and are forced to work. Slaves could be held against their will  from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived  ofRead More Importance of Slavery to the Caribbean Essay2863 Words   |  12 PagesImportance of Slavery to the Caribbean The significance of the role played by slaves in the history of the Caribbean cannot be overemphasized. Nearly everything that defines the Caribbean today can be traced back to the advent of Africans to the sugar plantations several centuries ago. For this reason it is impossible to ignore the issue of slavery when studying the history of the Caribbean, as we are doing in this class. Through our numerous readings on the status of slaves and their treatmentRead More The End to Slavery in the Caribbean Essay examples1245 Words   |  5 PagesThe End to Slavery in the Caribbean The Haitian Revolution (1791-1804) was the first successful slave revolt in the Caribbean, and it was one of the most important events in the history of the Americas. Along with the obvious human rights benefits that the Haitian Revolution achieved, there were some serious setbacks for the nation as well. Between 1783 and 1789, Saint Domingue was the foremost sugar producer in the region, but by the end of the war the economy was completely destroyedRead MoreEssay on Religious Justifications of Slavery in the Caribbean3525 Words   |  15 PagesReligious Justifications of Slavery in the Caribbean The doctrine of Christianity grants eternal life to all persons who accept that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and choose to follow him. Such a statement leaves little room for interpretation of the scripture itself. Nevertheless, the nineteenth century Christian churches of the Caribbean Islands created a racial distinction between humans which determined who could and who could not be granted eternal life through the Christian faith. ThisRead More The Social Impact of Slavery on the Caribbean Society Essay1336 Words   |  6 PagesThe Social Impact of Slavery on the Caribbean Society In order for us to understand the Caribbean, we must acknowledge the tremendous social impact slavery placed upon the islands. We must not only consider the practice of slavery dating back to the indigenous peoples, but from what the introduction of the African slave trade did to the islands economically as well as culturally. In this paper let me reflect on slavery in the Caribbean not from an economical standpoint but, from the racial or