Emancipation in the BWI

Chapter 6
Factors that contributed to the end of
enslavement in the BWI (Emancipation)
• Abolition of the Slave Trade 1807/8
• Industrial Revolution
• Campaign for emancipation lead by humanitarians and missionaries
• Emancipations revolts
• Failure of Amelioration 1823
• Reform of Parliament Act 1832
Abolition of the Slave Trade
• The ending of the slave trade stopped the legal supply of enslaved
persons being imported into West Indian territories
• This was a step closer to Emancipation itself as Abolition confirmed
that the slave trade and enslavement were inhumane and that was
an urgency to have both end
• Although the end of the slave trade signaled the nearing of
Emancipation, authorities now had to deal with the illegal trade in
slaves
• The slave trade continued elsewhere in the West Indies
Industrial Revolution
• Nearing the end of the 18th century there was a move away from agriculture to manufacturing, industry and
commerce sweeping across Europe (beginning in England)
• These economic sectors grew rapidly and demanded a change in the way labour was viewed and utilized
• There was no longer the need for slave labour (which existed in the agricultural section esp in the BWI)
• These sectors demanded free trade – lasses faire – which attracted the best price for the best product
regardless of source
• The BWI agricultural sector had enjoyed a long period of protection or preferentialism on the European market.
This meant that England preferred the products of her colonies over all others and so protected these products
from competition from other countries/colonies. For example BWI raw sugar (muscovado) attracted a preferred
or favourable price as opposed to muscovado coming in from other parts of the West Indies. These foreign
sources of sugar would be heavily taxed and so make it expensive to buy.
• The Industrial Revolution changed the way business was conducted and removed preferential taxes on products
coming from the BWI. All products stood equal on the European market.
• It became difficult for the BWI to maintain its competitiveness on the global market esp after the introduction
of beet sugar grown in France
Humanitarians and Missionaries
• From as early as 1776 religious societies such as the Quakers (Society of Friends)
condemned enslavement – in fact the Quakers who had owned slaves in Barbados urged
their members in the West Indies and North America to free their enslaved and to treat
others humanely.
• The founder of the Methodist Church – John Wesly – campaigned vigorously against
enslavement. He wrote many pamphlets and embarked on tours (in England) expressing
his stance.
• Others formed societies, some non religious, to advocate the abolition of the slave trade
as well as emancipation itself. One such group was the Clapham sect formed in 1787.
Similar movements occurred in France (Society of the Friends of the Blacks – 1788)
• These groups raised public awareness about the cruelties of enslavement and pressured
the authorities to bring and end to the institution
• Some of these advocates were Granville Sharp, Thomas Clarkson, James Ramsay, William
Wilberforce, Thomas Buxton
Emancipation Revolts
• There were three significant revolts which took place in the BWI which
together are called the Emancipation Revolts
• Barbados 1816
• Demerara 1823
• Jamaica 1831
• These revolts propelled the campaign for Emancipation in the BWI as they
signaled the restiveness of the enslaved. The enslaved were no longer
willing to accept their status and they were prepared to use violence to
achieve their freedom. These revolts show that the enslaved had reached
their breaking point and many whites were afraid of the imminent threat of
revolt.
Failure of Amelioration 1823
• After the passage of the Abolition Act in 1807, the British Parliament passed the
Registration Act in 1815. The parliament was well aware of the issues surrounding the
campaign to end enslavement. However, the West India interest was far too influential for
emancipation to occur at this point. Many parliamentarians called for the gradual end to
slavery.
• The Parliament passed the Amelioration Proposals in 1823. The aim of which was to
improve the lives and working conditions of the enslaved. The following were some of the
proposals:
• Whips were not to be used in the field
• Women and children not to be whipped
• Punishments had to be delayed and recorded
• Manumission must be granted
• Hours of work had to reduced and regulated
• Slaves were to be encouraged to marry, get religious instruction
• Slave families were not to be separated or sold as repayment of debts
• Slaves could give evidence in court against a white
• How did planters react to the Amelioration Proposals?
• They felt that the proposals interfered with their property rights and the right
of the Assembly to run the colony
• They saw that the British Parliament was disconnected with the realities of
West Indian enslavement
• They planters were still making profits on the backs of the enslaved
• Many planters ignored the Proposals
• The fines were not a deterrant
• There was no enforcement if the Proposals were ignored
Reform of Parliament Act 1832
• Many BWI plantations were owned by absentee owners, some of who may have sat as
members of Parliament
• Members of the British Parliament were sitting in rotten boroughs where there were few
inhabitants, most of whom held seats that were handed down through generations
• With the Industrial Revolution sweeping across Britain many new members of Parliament
were able to buy their seats. Many of them favoured free trade as they had made their
fortunes through manufacturing, industry and commerce. They wanted to change the
composition of the British Parliament as well as the stance on economic way forward for
Britain and her colonies, especially as Britain was expanded into Asia and the East.
• Parliament was reformed in 1832 removing most of the members who were in favour of
keeping slavery and were replaced by those who wanted change.
• This change assisted abolitionists in convincing the British Parliament to end the
institution of enslavement in the BWI
Emancipation in the BWI
• The Emancipation Act was passed in 1833 and came into effect on
August 1st 1834 in the BWI
• The Act provided the following among other clauses:
• All slaves under the age of 6 were to be freed immediately
• All slaves over the age of 6 had to serve a period of Apprenticeship – 4 years
for domestics, 6 years for field slaves. Apprenticeship was a period of
mandatory unpaid labour of about 40 and a half to 45 hours a week. Extra
hours to be paid.
• Planters were to receive 20 million pounds in compensation for the loss of
their property
Emancipation in other parts of the Americas
• FWI – 1848
• DWI – 1863
• USA – 1865
• CUBA – 1886
• BRAZIL - 1888
Independent Work
• Research the Emancipation Act of 1834 and list 3 to 5 more provisions
included in the Act
• What do you think was the purpose of the Apprenticeship period?
• Read chapter 6
• Define the following:
• Plantocracy
• West India interest
• Abolish
• Emancipate
• Ameliorate
• Humanitarian
• Missionary
• Do W and M on p.81