Morant Bay Rebellion Flashcards
What does the term osnaburgs mean?
clothes
In what year was the Morant Bay Rebellion?
1865
What was the cause of the rebellion?
the poor government on the island & the blacks lacked representation in the government. A few whites controlled the government of Jamaica, black Jamaicans had no voice in government. A government must have the ability to care for the governed masses through institutions such as healthcare and to manage the economy in a responsible manner that benefits not only the upper classes, but the entire populace. This was not the case in Jamaica at the time
In what year was slavery abolished?
1838
How were slaves given the right to vote?
by the amount of land they owned
About how many people were on the island prior to the rebellion and how many of them could vote?
436,000, less than 2000 of them could vote
What were the impoverished conditions that Jamaicans were living in?
-taxes were high, unemployment was high, prices were high
-low wages
-unsanitary houses
-new & unfair taxes
-negative imoact of american civil war
-a biased justice & court system
-expensive and exorbitant rents
-inadequate medical facilities
-apathy for the ruling class
-droughts & floods that would destroy crops
-land feuds over price and titles
Who paid a visit to the island in 1863 to observe the conditions that prevailed and who was he?
Dr. Edward Underhill, Secretary of the Baptist Missionary Society of Great Britain.
Who did Dr. Underhill write a letter to after observing the conditions in Jamaica and when?
the Colonial Office, February 1865
(he outlined the depressing conditions of the masses and criticising the plantocracy
Who became Governor of Jamaica in 1864?
Edward Eyre
(He was sent from England as an acting Governor before he became Governor)
Who was Underhill’s letter addressed to?
Governor Eyre
What are ‘Underhill meetings’
they were protest meetings called by Underhill in various parts of the land
Define Plantocracy
a ruling class or government composed of or dominated by slave owners and plantation owners
Define exorbitant
Define apathy
a feeling of not caring or not being interested
