The road to the abolition of slavery in the West Indies was a long one. While the abolition of the slave trade came early, it would be almost thirty years later until the institution of slavery was abolished in the British Caribbean. However, to say that abolition granted full freedom would be incorrect. Instead, another system with striking similarities to the previous one replaced it.
The road to the abolition of slavery in the West Indies was a long one. While the abolition of the slave trade came early, it would be almost thirty years later until the institution of slavery was abolished in the British Caribbean. However, to say that abolition granted full freedom would be incorrect. Instead, another system with striking similarities to the previous one replaced it.
The conversation around the abolition of slavery started years before any legislation was set in place. Many British citizens were concerned about the enslavement of Africans in the British colonies. Alongside their concern, plantation owners were experiencing resistance from their slaves and the maroon communities in the Caribbean. [1]
In 1787, a group of twelve men in London, England formed The Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade. While the early abolitionists argued for the end of slavery in the colonies, Parliament was hesitant to end the free labor that allowed the plantation industry to be so profitable. Instead, they passed a series of acts limiting, and eventually ending, the slave trade. [2]
Parliament first passed The Dolben’s Act of 1788. The act was named after and proposed by abolitionist Sir William Dolben. The act was intended to limit the amount of slaves brought over to the British Caribbean, but it instead brought more children into slavery. It stated that no more than two fifths of the cargo could be children and limited full grown men to one per ship ton. However, ‘children’ was loosely defined and five child slaves were equal to four full grown slaves. [3]
Parliament first passed The Dolben’s Act of 1788. The act was named after and proposed by abolitionist Sir William Dolben. The act was intended to limit the amount of slaves brought over to the British Caribbean, but it instead brought more children into slavery. It stated that no more than two fifths of the cargo could be children and limited full grown men to one per ship ton. However, ‘children’ was loosely defined and five child slaves were equal to four full grown slaves. [3]
With a majority vote, Parliament finally passed the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act in 1807. This act made it illegal to engage in the slave trade in the British colonies. However, the transportation and selling of slaves persisted in the Caribbean for a few years afterwards and was often difficult to police.
While the abolitionists wanted to end the institution of slavery completely, they figured it would be easier to gain support if they campaigned to end the trade itself first. After the act was put in place, they assumed it would eventually lead to emancipation. When the abolitionists realized that it would not lead to end of slavery, they began to push for complete abolition of slavery and came together to form the Anti-Slavery Society in 1823. [4]
While the abolitionists wanted to end the institution of slavery completely, they figured it would be easier to gain support if they campaigned to end the trade itself first. After the act was put in place, they assumed it would eventually lead to emancipation. When the abolitionists realized that it would not lead to end of slavery, they began to push for complete abolition of slavery and came together to form the Anti-Slavery Society in 1823. [4]
As Anti-Slavery Societies increased in number and the topic became hotly debated in both the colonies and Britain, Caribbean slaves came together in large numbers in rebellion against the plantation owners. Tension was high among abolitionists, those who supported slavery, and the slaves themselves and often led to violence.
Finally, The Slave Emancipation Act was passed in 1833 and granted freedom to enslaved Africans in British colonies. However, emancipation for slaves had a complex meaning that differed from the freedom one would expect for them. The Act allowed the slave owners to keep their slaves for a set amount of years and would also compensate them financially for the losses. [5]
However, while emancipation brought an end to slavery, the affects were not immediate. The apprenticeship system was implanted first, which allowed plantation owner to employ their previous slaves for a set period of years for no wages. The emancipated slaves were offered no financial support from the government and were required to work in a system that was essentially the same as what was just abolished. After much public pressure and the freeing of slaves in other parts of the Carribbean, the new system would eventually end on 1 August 1838. This date is considered the true date of the abolition of slavery in the British Caribbean since the enslaved Africans were finally granted full emancipation. [6] However, this was not the end of the struggle to gain equal freedom as the white citizens of the Caribbean. The system of oppression and discrimination would persist for years afterward.
Finally, The Slave Emancipation Act was passed in 1833 and granted freedom to enslaved Africans in British colonies. However, emancipation for slaves had a complex meaning that differed from the freedom one would expect for them. The Act allowed the slave owners to keep their slaves for a set amount of years and would also compensate them financially for the losses. [5]
However, while emancipation brought an end to slavery, the affects were not immediate. The apprenticeship system was implanted first, which allowed plantation owner to employ their previous slaves for a set period of years for no wages. The emancipated slaves were offered no financial support from the government and were required to work in a system that was essentially the same as what was just abolished. After much public pressure and the freeing of slaves in other parts of the Carribbean, the new system would eventually end on 1 August 1838. This date is considered the true date of the abolition of slavery in the British Caribbean since the enslaved Africans were finally granted full emancipation. [6] However, this was not the end of the struggle to gain equal freedom as the white citizens of the Caribbean. The system of oppression and discrimination would persist for years afterward.
[1] Ali, Linda, and John Siblon. “Abolition of the Slave Trade.” Black Presence, The National Archives, www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pathways/blackhistory/rights/abolition.htm.
[2] Jones, Hannah. “British Citizens Campaign for the Abolition of the Slave Trade, 1787-1807.” Global Nonviolent Action Database, 14 Feb. 2010, nvdatabase.swarthmore.edu/content/british-citizens-campaign-abolition-slave-trade-1787-1807.
[3] "The Dolben's Act of 1788 [Government Document]," in Children and Youth in History, Item #146, http://chnm.gmu.edu/cyh/items/show/146 (accessed April 23, 2018). Annotated by Colleen A. Vasconcellos
[4] “The 1807 Act and Its Effects: The Abolition of Slave Trade.” The Abolition Project, East of England Broadband Network, abolition.e2bn.org/slavery_113.html.
[5] Ali, Linda, and John Siblon. “Emancipation.” Black Presence, The National Archives, www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pathways/blackhistory/rights/emancipation.htm.
[6] “Abolition of Slavery.” About Abolition, The National Archives, 10 Nov. 2006, www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/slavery/about.htm.
[2] Jones, Hannah. “British Citizens Campaign for the Abolition of the Slave Trade, 1787-1807.” Global Nonviolent Action Database, 14 Feb. 2010, nvdatabase.swarthmore.edu/content/british-citizens-campaign-abolition-slave-trade-1787-1807.
[3] "The Dolben's Act of 1788 [Government Document]," in Children and Youth in History, Item #146, http://chnm.gmu.edu/cyh/items/show/146 (accessed April 23, 2018). Annotated by Colleen A. Vasconcellos
[4] “The 1807 Act and Its Effects: The Abolition of Slave Trade.” The Abolition Project, East of England Broadband Network, abolition.e2bn.org/slavery_113.html.
[5] Ali, Linda, and John Siblon. “Emancipation.” Black Presence, The National Archives, www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pathways/blackhistory/rights/emancipation.htm.
[6] “Abolition of Slavery.” About Abolition, The National Archives, 10 Nov. 2006, www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/slavery/about.htm.