Box 1 History Sugar Revolution

Question 1

When did the sugar revolution begin?

Answer 1

It began in Barbados in 1640 and was completed by 1650.

Question 2

What is the sugar revolution?

Answer 2

This was a change from tobacco to sugar and the consequences of its introduction on a large scale in the Caribbean in the 17th century.

Question 3

What are some causes of the sugar revolution?

Answer 3

2. The journey to Virginia was shorter and easier for European merchants.
3. There was an increasing demand for sugar in Europe to be used as a sweetener for teas and in the manufacturing of sweets.
4. There was a glut on the market so the price of tobacco fell.
5. Failure of other crops in terms of profitability eg. Ginger and cotton

Question 4

What are the differences between sugar and tobacco cultivation

Answer 4

1. Tobacco could be grown successfully by small farmers on small landholdings
2. One man and his family could manage all the process of the manufacturing of tobacco
3. Sugar production had to be grown on a large scale on large areas of land
4. Africans had to be brought in large numbers to work on sugar plantations.

Question 5

What some social changes caused by the sugar revolution?

Answer 5

1. The black population increased with the importation of African slaves to produce sugar.
2. The white population decreased as the whites returned to Europe or moved onto other islands because they did not want to work alongside the blacks.
3. Society changed from a free citizenry to a slave society as the Africans were enslaved on the plantations and the small number of whites ruled society. ‘’Free’’ meant ‘’white’’’ and ‘’slave’’ meant ‘’black’’.
4. Social status was now determined by colour as new social groupings were introduced.
5. Laws were introduced to define the relationships between master and slaves. Eg. Deficiency Act, Code Noir, Siete Partidas and British Slave Codes.
6. A whole new culture was introduced- the African culture
7. Absenteeism (practice of owning land in one country but living in another) became a feature of West Indian society as planters owned plantations in the West Indies but lived in Europe.

Question 6

What are the political consequences of the sugar revolution in the Caribbean?

Answer 6

Britain and France became major superpowers and the colonies were used as pawns in their rivalry for supremacy.

The Old Representative System of Government replaced the Proprietorship System of Government. The Old Representative System of Government had a Governor and an Assembly. Barbados had its assembly set up in 1639. This was the first Assembly to be established in the West Indies. The planter-class ruled the assembly and made the decisions as they held many seats.

Laws were instituted to get rid of the Dutch: Navigation Acts and Mercantilism.

Question 7

What are the economical consequences of the sugar revolution in the Caribbean?

Answer 7

The land prices increased as well as the demand for land.

The amount of land owners decreased, ones that had little land were put out of business and small plots of land could not fit in the amount of sugarcane that was needed. Many small holdings were grouped together into large estates, under the ownership of a rich planter.
Large amounts of capital were invested in the sugar industry. Most of this capital was from the Mother country and soon many West Indian planters were indebted to British bankers, investors and merchants.

England gained a lot of revenue from the sugar industry. Later she would use much of this money to finance her Industrial Revolution.