THE BARDADIAN

REVOLT
(BUSSA REBELLION)

g
 GROUP MEMBERS

Amelia king
Chiana-lee Wolfe
Tomoyia Williams
Amelia Harris
Ocean Smikle
THEME: Resistance and Revolt

Topic: Barbados Revolt (1816)

• AREAS TO BE MENTIONED
- Causes
- Effects
- Courses
- Reasons for failure
THE BUSSA REBELLION:
How It All Began?!
 THE BARBADOS REVOLT :
LEADER ‘General’ BUSSA

LINK TO BUSSA’S SPEECH

Barbados National Heroes (Bussa)-Youtube
https://youtu.be/UrCCyTJlSBk
https://youtu.be/9Ky1D9TjAa0
Summary of Bussa’s speech

– In 1850, they received word that they could be free

through the King by receiving the freedom papers.
– They would work for continuous hours without breaks
with exception for the half an hour period destined for
breakfast.
– All work was expected to be completed at 6pm every
evening.
BUSSA REVOLT : CAUSES

1. Activities of non-conformist missionaries

* These missionaries were with the slaves and supported
them through various activities such as hosting group
meetings for them , training the church leaders who were
slaves and teaching them how to read. As a result of their
literacy they interpreted the bible and spread the word
amongst themselves and they were also able to read
newspaper articles on political rights in Europe.
 BUSSA REVOLT : CAUSES
(CNTD.)
2. Slaves believed that emancipation was being withheld
* Due to the increase in literacy amongst the slaves, more
and more slaves were becoming aware of the European
disputes and revolutions - the French revolution and the
English-Haiti. This lead them to believe that is was time
that they claimed the independence and freedom they
were rightfully entitled to thus beginning a revolt.
 BUSSA REVOLT : CAUSES
(CNTD.2)
3. Barbadian planters’ refusal to accept the Slave
Registration Bill.
The British Slave Trade was abolished in 1807 and the slaves mistook it
for emancipation. There was a registration bill (the registration of slaves)
in which planters or owners had to register their slaves, this was passed
so as to stop excessive punishment as well as the illegal sale of slaves.
The planters were angry over the passing of this bill and saw it as
interference in their domestic affairs. The slaves misinterpreted this as
being angry about a plan for their emancipation.
BARBADOS REVOLT:
The Course It Took
BUSSA REVOLT : COURSE

The revolt was started by Bussa and Jackey on

April 14, 1816. By April 15 Bussa, King
Wiltshire, Dick Bailey, and Johnny led the
slaves into battle at Bailey's Plantation. The
rebellion quickly spread to St. John and St.
George (parishes).
Course (Cont)

The revolt was crushed by Colonel Edward, the

commander of the Barbados Militia, and British
troops who rounded up the rebels. Bussa died
whilst in war with 175 others and even after his
death many of them kept fighting. A total of 214
slaves were executed including Franklin. Another
100 was exiled to Sierra Leone an African state.
Effects of the revolt

 As a result sixty estate buildings and a fifth of the sugar

plantation were destroyed by fire.

 Many persons died on the plantations and it was let to ruins.

An outcome was that Bussa became one of
Barbados National hero
Major reason why the revolt failed

– The main reason the revolt failed wasn’t due to the

fact that the blacks were outnumbered but it was
that their machinery was far less than that of which
the white men pocessed thereby leading to their
defeat and many leading executions to those who
did not surrender.
The End!!!

– Any Questions???