Emancipation in the British Caribbean

EMANCIPATION IN THE BRITISH CARIBBEAN

Factors/Conditions that led to the Abolition of Slavery in the British
Colonies
Amelioration had failed because it was rejected as being unworkable by the
planters. As a result, it was decided that there was a need for immediate
emancipation in the British colonies.
In 1830, a few members of the Anti-Slavery Movement set up an Agency
Committee whose aim was to win public opinion over to immediate
emancipation. The committee divided the country into five districts and put a
paid lecture in charge of each. Within a year, they had set up over 1,000 new
anti- slavery groups. The campaigners resorted to house-to-house lobbying
and they launched a poster campaign, highlighting the need for
emancipation. They employed the services of the press and they printed
pamphlets which they distributed. Ministers of religion were encouraged to
use the pulpit to help the cause of the movement. Hundreds of petitions with
large numbers of signatures were sent to Parliament. Non- conformist
missionaries such as William Knibb helped to enhance the movement when
they informed the British public about slave uprisings and planter reprisals.
The Sam Sharpe Rebellion of 1831 also known as the Baptist War or the
Christmas Rebellion played a significant role in helping to speed up the
emancipation process. It was the first time that slaves had planned to use
strike action to pressure the planters to meet their demands. The harsh
response of the planters to this revolt including the hostile treatment of the
missionaries and the fear created in the minds of many by the slaves’ action,
ultimately contributed to the decision to bring slavery to an end.
The formation of a terrorist organization in St. Ann’s Bay in 1832, called the
Colonial Church Union and sponsored by a number of planters also
contributed to the emancipation process. Its founder and leading spirit of the
union was an Anglican parson and rector of the parish of St. Ann. He
declared that the union’s purpose was to defend the interests of the colony,
to expose the alleged falsehood of the Anti-Slavery Society and to uphold the
church.
However, the union was really an anti-missionary organization with a
religious façade. It prevented the spread of any other doctrine expect those
of the churches of England and Scotland. It persecuted missionaries of the
non-conformist religions especially those of the Baptist and Methodist faith. It
also tries to support by force the crumbling foundation of the slave system. It
influenced the magistrates to withdraw the licenses which were granted to
missionaries to preach. Eventually, in January 1833, the Governor of Jamaica,
Lord Musgrave, declared the organization illegal. It rapidly disintegrated.
 There was a general demand for the reform of Parliament in Britain. In
1830, King George IV who was opposed to reform in parliamentary
elections died. Furthermore, the Whig Government which was more in
favour of reform replaced the Tory Government. Soon a Parliamentary
Reform Act was passed in 1832. This Act led to the redistribution of the
electoral divisions according to the new voting population and the loss
of a number of boroughs which were generally ‘’bought’’ by members
of the landed interest including wealthy West Indian planters in Britain.
These vacant seats transferred to the new industrial towns like
Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds and Sheffield, which previously had no
representation to the countries and small farmers who previously had
no vote.
 The strength of the West India Lobby was reduced and this helped the
emancipation cause. The passing of the Reform Act led to an increase
in the number of votes, since the franchise was extended to all town
dwellers who paid 10 Euros on a short lease, factory owners and
traders. The Abolition Society urged the new voters to support
emancipation as well as the election candidates. When elections were
held in 1833, two successful candidates included industrialists,
manufacturers and others who were prepared to support
emancipation.
 Many of the new members of Parliament were industrialists who
favoured free trade to provide them with new markets for their goods.
The interest of the humanitarians coincided with that of the
industrialists. In addition, major slave trading towns like London, Bristol
and Liverpool were developing other trading interests to supplement
sugar, and so they were prepared to support the abolitionists. At the
same time, the decline of the sugar industry in the early years of the
century and the decline of the plantocracy further weakened the
position of the West India interest. Therefore, when the opportunity
came, the members of the reformed British Parliament voted
overwhelmingly for the emancipation of the slaves.

THE EMANCIPATION ACT OF 1833
The Emancipation Bill was introduced by Thomas Fowell-Buxton. It was he
who replaced William Wilberforce in Parliament in 1822 as the chief
Parliamentary spokesman for abolition. The Bill stated that ‘’Slavery shall be
and is hereby utterly and forever abolished and declared unlawful
throughout the British colonies and possessions abroad.’’ However, in 1833
emancipation was not complete because there were clauses in the Act about
an apprenticeship System that delayed complete emancipation until 1838.
Reasons why the Emancipation Act was passed
1. The campaigners for abolition kept the question alive in the minds of
the public and helped to win support for the cause. The
humanitarians and other abolitionists like Thomas Buxton worked
tirelessly in and out of Parliament and brought pressure on the
government to abolish the system.
2. Many of the abolitionists were economists who revealed the
uneconomic nature of slavery. Others were industrialists who has
displaced the West Indian Interest (the hard-core supporters of slavery)
and reduced their strength in the reformed Parliament. They used their
political strength in Parliament to vote against slavery which retarded
industrial growth and development.
3. The slave economy was in decline and there was no fear that abolition
would make it worse, so the government was willing to pass the Act.
4. The planters failed to adopt the amelioration measures and their
attitude demonstrated the need for Parliament to act.
5. The actions of the slaves were important particularly the Sam Sharpe
Rebellion (Christmas Rebellion) which the slaves used to demand their
freedom. People in Britain became convinced that if the authorities
failed to respond to the slaves, then they would use violence to free
themselves. This could be disastrous for the West Indies, and so the
government were persuaded to act to avoid any disasters.
6. The planters’ response to and their treatment of the missionaries such
as John Smith and William Knibb were discouraging. People associated
with the religious and the evangelical movement in Britain were not
only convinced about the immorality of slavery but were also infuriated
by the planters’ treatment of the missionaries. Hence, they put
pressure on the government to abolish the system.
7. The first-hand reports by Knibb and Burchell of the atrocities
committed by members of the Colonial Church Union as well as
planters on the slaves, when they returned to Britain also helped. The
public was convinced that the planters were not willing to change, and
therefore, it was important for the government to bring the system to
an end.
The Provisions/Clauses of the Emancipation Act
The Emancipation Act stated that slavery was to be abolished from August
1st, 1834. Some of the provisions of the Act were designed to gain the
cooperation of the planters. These stated that:
1. Slaves, six years and over were to serve a period of apprenticeship. In
the case of domestic slaves, four years whereas field slaves were to
serve six years.
2. Apprentices were to work for their masters for three-quarters of the
working week (40 ½ hours) without wages.
3. Twenty million pounds were provided to compensate the planters for
the loss of their unpaid labour.
4. Apprentices were to remain on the estate during the Apprenticeship
period.
There were also provisions designed to benefit the apprentices. These stated
that:
1. Children under six years old on August 1st, 1834 were to be freed
immediately.
2. Planters were to continue to provide food, clothing, shelter and medical
care for apprentices, and in the absence of food, provision grounds
should be provided and time to cultivate them.
3. Apprentices were to be paid for work done in excess of the compulsory
40 ½ hours per week.
4. Apprentices could not be sold unless the estate to which they belonged
was sold.
5. Stipendiary Magistrates were to be provided to supervise the
Apprenticeship System.
6. Apprentices could purchase their freedom with or without the consent
of their masters.
7. The Apprenticeship period could be shortened but no alternative to
Apprenticeship would be allowed.
Result
On the 29th August, 1833, the Emancipation Act received royal assent and so
Emancipation was to come into effect on August, 1st, 1834. Order-in-Council
enforced it on the Crown Colonies. In other colonies, the local legislatures
were expected to follow. However, the legislature of Antigua and Barbuda
decided not to implement Apprenticeship so their slaves received complete
freedom on August 1st, 1834.