Form 4 Term II Flashcards
Why were Africans selected as slaves in the West Indies?
1 Because of the decline of the Tainos & Kalinagos (indigenous people) under the encomienda system
2 Cheap & reliable labour
3 Africa’s population was massive & indispensable
4 Geographic location — Africa is the nearest continent to Europe
5 Africa’s chiefs were corrupt and accepted brides eg. Alcohol, gems, textiles, horses, jewelry, trinkets, gunpowder & brik o brak
6 High immunity to diseases
7 Accustom to climate (sub-tropical)
8 Accustom to agriculture
9 Accustom to long hours of work
10 Africans were easily controlled through the use of force & brutality
11 There is the notion of white superiority vs black inferiority (racism)
What is the middle passage?
The middle passage presented the second leg of the transatlantic slave trade. This journey was brutal as it lasted between 6 weeks to 3 months. Slaves were then transported directly from Africa to the Caribbean.
What happened in the middle passage?
1 slaves were packed in the lower decks of slavers in box like trays (150cm x 50cm). Slaves were placed in a lying position.
2 The lower decks were extremely hot and many died of heat trokes.
3 Families were sperated
4 There was no ventilation
5 There was an increase in diseases for example: yaws and dropsy
6 little or no sanitization as the lower deck was washed simply with salt water and vinegar
7 Slaves were fed spoil food
8 Slaves the were force fed when they tried to resist or not eat ( a hammer or chisel was used to break the jaw and a funnel was used to feed slaves.)
9 Women were raped by European sailors
10 Slaves suffered from malnutrition
11 Slaves were brought on top the deck to exercise, sing, and dance.
Effects of slavery on Africa
Depopulation - population decrease took place because of death rate and because of the large numbers that will captured.
2 De-tributization
3 There is a development of a generation cap: meaning that the population comprised of the very old
4 There is the collapse of trade and Africa’s economy
5 there is a decline in the family, religion, farming and traditional crafts (iron working, bronze working, gold working and brass working)
6 Europeans the control of major coastal areas which was used to set up major ports and harbors
What is the plantation system?
The plantation system can be defined as a system of reproduction with the use of slaves / Force labor, the plantation was based on one monoculture over large tracks of land. (Flat fertile land) This system took into consideration strict lines of control based on authority, race, color and status
Hangout of plantation
The plantation was referred to as a total institution as it was based on the strict control of Labor but at the same time it was based on clear instructions and layout. The layout was based on specific design. Great House (Planter), Factory (Crushers & Boiler), Hospital, Overseer House, Slave Driver’s House (Black), Trash House, Middle House, Boiling House, Curing House, Still House, Slave Barrack
Organization of the sugar plantation
The plantation usually operated within two seasons. (A) From August to November aka the Dead season. Maintenance and repairs were done on all plantations. Repairs was done on the factory (Ingenio), slave barracks, painting of great house and preparation of gardens. During this dead season, repairs was carried on windmills, Crushers, ploughs and the making of haysheds (wooden barrels). (B) Crop season was between the month of November to July colon during these months, slaves were worked the hardest, as they had to cut cane and transport it to the factory within 48 hours. This period involves the cutting of cane, extracting of the juice and boiling the sugar syrup in copper boilers (teache). At this point, the sugar would be left too hard and in order to form muscovado sugar.
Social division of sugar plantation
Plantation society were rigidly divided based on authority and control.
(A) Whites — planter, manager, overseer, accountant, clerk/book keepers
(B) Colours — skilled work and work within the great eg. Couch men, butlers, flunkies (foot-men/runners), general factory work
(C) First gang/main gang - This group comprises of the strongest slaves, both male & female. In this gang there were teenagers and young adults, there jobs were to plant cane, cut cane & to transport cane to the factories.
- Second Gang - This group comprised of the sick, pregnant and the youth. They were responsible for lighter work, weeding & harrowing
- Third Gang/Pickney Gang - This gang comprise of children and the very old. Children were seasoned to get accustom to plantation work. Eg. Weeding & cleaning.
Why were the slaves controlled?
- To prevent rebellion/resistance and revolts.
- To ensure work was done efficiently timely
- To ensure that the ratio of blacks to whites would not lead to slaves overpowering masters eg. Guns
What method of control was used for slaves?
Methods of control was carried out by planters, slave drivers, overseers & the militia/soilders
- African slaves were controlled by (1) Physical punishment eg. Whipping/flogging/stripes, hot box, hanging, mutilation, branding, treadmill & the use of collars & masks
(2) Economic control - slaves could not own properties, earn wages or become educated
(3) Cultural control - slaves could not practice their own religion and traditions. Slaves could not practice drumming, speaking in African dialect, dancing and even rituals eg. Obeah/voodum
(4) Psychological control - This is where whites used fear to control slaves as well as colour eg. Black inferiority vs white superiority (racism)
(5) Social control - This is where slaves where divided into gangs, could not communicate in their mother tongue, as well as colour
(6) Legal control - Police laws, (B.W.I), Las Siette Partidas (S.W.I) Code Noir (P.W.I)
Resistance
Even though planters tried a number of strategies to maintain control, slaves resisted because they were overworked, brutally treated, and starved. Resistance can be broken down into passive or non insurrectionary & active of insurrectionary
Examples of resistance
- Maroonage (runaway slave)
- slow working/malingering
- hiding tools
- acting ignorant or aggressive to be left alone
- telling lies to create confusion
- poisoning of water sources & food
- murdering of planters or whites
- petty stealing
- burning plantations
- open rebellion or rioting
- suicide/infanticide
Maroonage
This would describes the lifestyle of a runaway slave. Maroons settled in mountainous terrain and forested areas. The best examples of maroon communities who found in Haiti, Jamaica and Trinidad, maroon communities were very aggressive and signed treaties with plantation owners.
(1) Maroonies in Jamaica established permanent villages in the forest.
(2) Maroons were excellent in guerilla warfare
(3) Maroonies often raided plantations
(4) Maroons often came into conflict with with European soilders and white land owners.
Factors that resulted in the full of maroon villages
- The European attacks on the maroon villages
- Political stability among maroon villages
- Access to food
- Access to medicine
- Access to drinking water (shelter was also a concern in mountainous areas because of weather/heavy rain falls/hurricanes
- It was difficult to grow in mountainous areas (food shortages)
- Open warfare also occured between maroon villages
Strategies used by maroons for their survival
- signing treaties with the whites
- guerilla warfare
- hunting and raiding plantations for food
- geographical location
