Plantation Society

Plantation Society: Divisions among the ethnic groups (social
stratification) and occupations of each group
Plantation Society: The rigidly stratified system of social and economic
relations enforced on plantations in the Americas.
Divisions among slaves
At the top of the slave social ladder were the domestic slaves. They were
then followed by the artisan or skilled slaves. The field slaves or praedial
slaves were at the bottom of the slave social ladder. The slaves used mainly
skin tone and the type of work they did as factors to determine their social
status. Other factors included: leadership skills, age, treatment which they
enjoyed on the estate, and personal possessions.
Divisions among whites
The planters or attorneys were at the top of the social ladder of the whites.
They were followed by the overseers, bookkeepers, and indentured servants.
The whites used education, family background and wealth as factors to
determine their social status.
Occupations
Whites
 Planning estate work
 Supervising labour
 Administrating punishment
 Teaching the slaves skills

Coloureds
 Nannies
 Cooks
 Domestic Slaves

Blacks
 Carpenters
 Blacksmiths
 Taylors
 Factory workers
 Wheel rights
 Coopers
 Masons
 Prepare and harvest plants

Reasons why free coloureds had less status than whites
 They were descendants of Black slaves
 They were less wealthy than whites and so were disadvantaged
when it came to holding certain positions in society
 They were generally less educated than whites
What factors were used by whites to determine slaves’ social
status?
 Their skills (carpenters, coopers, masons)
 Strength (muscular build, size)
 Age (youthfulness)
 Health
 Leadership qualities
 Country/place of birth
 Complexion
 Special medicinal skills
 Degree of loyalty which they demonstrated to their masters

What privileges were enjoyed by whites on the estate?
 Better jobs
 Better living quarters
 Better food
 Payment
 Respected
 Had rights to bear arms
 More educated
 Right to vote
 They could influence political decisions as they were members of
parliament
 Visit their homeland
Privileges enjoyed by coloured slaves (mulattoes)
 Some lived in the Great House (basement)
 Generally better fed than blacks
 Had access to books and could read
 Better dressed than blacks

Organization of a typical 18th century Sugar Plantation
Sugar estate lands were divided into:
1. Sugarcane fields
2. Pasture lands (animals)
3. Woodlands (building slave huts & fuel for boiling houses)
4. Vegetable gardens (vegetables for whites)
5. Provision grounds (where slaves got their food to sell)
6. Work yards
7. Living quarters
Buildings on the Sugar Plantations and their use
 The Mill- grinding/crushing of cane to make sugar.
 Boiling House- cane was clarified by heating with white lime, cane juice
evaporated, leaving a mixture of sugar crystals and molasses.
 Curing House- for weeks, excess molasses dripped through small holes
at the bottom of the hogsheads leaving muscovado sugar behind.
 Distillery (Still House)- molasses skimmed of cane juice was converted
into rum.

 Trash House- crushed cane was stored here to be used as fuel.
 Work Shops- this is where skilled craftsmen made barrels, carts,
wagons, etc.
 Great House- largest house on the estate, house of the planter and his
family, easy access to the road, usually stood on top of a hill where all
could be seen.
 Overseers and bookkeepers’ quarters- used for living by the overseers
and bookkeepers and also as offices.
 Slave Huts- no real architecture, small and just enough to sleep in.
 Store House- supplies, tools, chemicals.
 Hospital- ‘’Hot House’’, where sick slaves were taken care of.
 G A O L- where slaves were punished.