“Proto-Peasant Revolts?” by Craton

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Table of Contents

Executive Summary
Main Body
Conclusion
References

Executive Summary

This report is about the three major revolts against the British in their colonies in South America in the wake of an aggressive liberation struggle from all the corners of the world. The revolts occurred in Barbados (1816), Demerara (Guyana) 1823 and in Jamaica; 1831-2.It also highlights the major reasons like oppressive rule and inhuman abuse of the slaves in the farms. Some of the slaves were killed in cold blood.

Main Body

Three serious revolts erupted in a period considered one of the freedom and liberalization. These slave revolts occurred in the British West Indies in the preceding two decades of formalized slavery: Barbados in 1816, Demerara(Guyana)in 1823 and Jamaica in 1831-2. These extensively resistant and influential rebellions occurred remarkably after a period of comparative slave quiescence an assimilate elite of Christian origin (Herbert Aptheker, 1976).

The slaves were ready to die for their liberty from repression, unassimilable elements and frustrations of their expectations. The Africans still had deep seated roots back home that kept their dreams alive beyond the end of slavery in 1808. The rebellion in Barbados succeeded a period of hardship and the destruction was massive and the government used oppressive and fatal means of containing the slaves. Demerara was acquired from the Dutch twenty years before the 1823 rebellion of the decreasing unhealthy, disease suffering slaves who rated twenty to one white. Even though the slaves were oppressed, they were always pushed to rebel by their detractors. Many rebels fled into the bush and most notably the convicted ones like Reverend John Smith, the “Demerara Martyr” led to public furore in England. The most benevolently run estates in Demerara surprised the slave masters leading to a slowing of the pace of emancipation (Edinburgh Review,1824).

Jamaica experienced the “Christmas Rebellion” of 1831-2 was the most serious and longest of the three rebellions. It remained a third largest producer of sugar of the British colonies. Many slaves were overworked to bridge the gap in economies of scale due to collapse of some states. The slaves were 75% Creole but their numbers reduced remarkably. The Jamaican slaves prepared fully for the strike due to a long holiday after Christmas. Slaves were marooned, whereas women and children were shot on sight (Michael Craton, 1979).

Conclusion

In conclusion, there is clear evidence based on the literature and descendants of the slaves about the mistreatment of the slaves in the sugar plantations. The abuse experienced by the slaves should not be repeated as this would erode the gains made in the fight against human rights abuses over the years.

References

Edinburgh Review, 1824. Proceedings of a general court Martial Held at the Colony House in George Town.
Herbert Aptheker. 1976. Comparative perspectives on slavery in New World Plantation Societies.
Kolchin P. Reevaluating the Antebellum Slave Community: A Comparative Perspective. The Journal of American History, Vol. 70, No. 3. (1983), pp. 579-601. Web.
Michael Craton, 1979. Proto-Peasant Revolts? The late slave Rebellions in the British West Indies 1816-1832.

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“Proto-Peasant Revolts?” by Craton

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