The Impact of the 17th Century Sugar Revolution in the Caribbean
What was The Sugar
Revolution?
The term “sugar revolution”
refers to the change from
tobacco to sugar cultivation
which took place in the mid or
late 17th century in the Eastern
Caribbean islands, and the social
changes that went with it.
Why did The Sugar Revolution
occur?
 The Decline in
Profitability of Tobacco
 The Potential Profitability
of Sugar
 Suitability for Trade
Effects of The Sugar Why were the Africans taken
Revolution as slaves?
 Economic Changes
The Africans were taken as
slaves during the sugar
The size of land holding
revolution as there was a need
increased as a result of
for a large amount of and
absorption of smaller
constant labour, this was one of
tobacco farms.
the main reasons Africans were
brought to the West Indies as
The number of landowners
decreased in the island. slave workers. This caused the
populations of the islands to
grow to be largely black opposed
Capital expenditure
increased in the island. to their once predominantly
white populations.
Increased revenue for the
island. This societal change brought
about racial discrimination and
The price of land the social status of people began
increased. to be based on skin colour.