Resistance and Revolt

Question 1

Forms of control over the slaves.

Answer 1

Legislation, Psychological control, Economic control, Social control, Ideological control, Physical control and Cultural control.

Question 2

The two types of resistance used by slaves?

Answer 2

1. Insurrectionary resistance (overt).
2. Non-insurrectionary resistance (covert).

Question 3

Types of insurrectionary resistance?

Answer 3

1. Armed attacks, examples; revolts of Berbice, Haiti, Barbados, Demerara and Jamaica.
2. Marronage, for example the maroons in Hispaniola and Cuba.
3. Arson, which was punishable by hanging.

Question 4

Types of non-insurrectionary resistance?

Answer 4

1. Go-slow or malingering - playing up to the prejudices of not being able to understand instructions.
2. Feigned sickness.
3. Sabotage and poisoning - sabotage included damaging estate machinery, tools, animals, buildings and cane fields. Domestics used their knowledge of plants to slow poison planters.

Question 5

Types of female resistance?

Answer 5

Some women used their relationships with planters to maximize benefit for themselves and their offspring. Some would also extend the periods of their breastfeeding. Some mother resorted to abortion to spare their children. The role of women as market vendors also made it easier for them to spread information.

Question 6

What were some reasons for the Haitian Revolution?

Answer 6

There was political and social unrest among the citizens. They were also inspired by the French revolution.

Question 7

Motto for the French Revolution?

Answer 7

Liberty, Equality and Fraternity.

Question 8

When was the Berbice revolution?

Answer 8

1763

Question 9

When was the Haitian revolution?

Answer 9

1791

Question 10

When was the Barbados revolution?

Answer 10

1816

Question 11

When was the Demerara revolution?

Answer 11

1823

Question 12

When was the Jamaican revolution?

Answer 12

1831

Question 13

The leaders of the Haitian revolution in chronological order?

Answer 13

1. Vincent Ogé
2. Dutty Boukman
3. Toussaint L’Overture

Question 14

What did Vincent Ogé do?

Answer 14

He led the coloureds to take up arms against the white and were defeated by planter forces. They were executed.

Question 15

What did Dutty Boukman do?

Answer 15

The enslaved lead by Dutty Boukman used the cover of vodun ceremonies to spread their plans across the island. He made successful attacks on plantations in 1791. He was captured and put to death.

Question 16

What did Toussaint L’Overture do?

Answer 16

He was an enslaved domestic worker who became a coachman. He organized and led the enslaved population against the European nations, defeated and expelled the British in 1976.

Question 17

Leaders of Berbice revolution.

Answer 17

The revolution was lead by Kofi, Atta and Akara who were enslaved Akans from West Africa.

Question 18

Causes of Berbice Revolution.

Answer 18

Brutality is the main and immediate cause. The underlying cause of shortage of local and imported food supplies for the growing enslaved population and Spanish restrictions on the Orinoco fisheries.

Question 19

Course of Berbice revolution.

Answer 19

The insurgents drove out the whites, occupied estates, seizing arms, and ammunition to equip their followers. Looting, burning and killing whites caused panic as confused whites fled to safety in Demerara.

Kofi was ‘Governor of the Negroes of Berbice’. By March 1762 whites were confined to the malarial swampy areas of the mouth of the Canje River. Disunity and ethnic differences weakened the insurgents who burned estates and fled to forests. Beset by food shortages, disease, poor planning and a strengthened opposition insurgents surrendered. The rebellion ended with the capture of Atta in April 1764.

Question 20

Consequences of Berbice Revolution.

Answer 20

124 insurgents were condemned to death. Before his death Atta was tortured by burning at the stake. 16 Africans and coloureds who assisted the whites, including the leaders Akara and Goussari who betrayed Atta.

Question 21

Causes of Barbados Revolution.

Answer 21

The enslaved in Barbados were inspired by the Haitian Revolution. These enslaved also believed that their freedom was being withheld from them. The planters also became more hostile to imperial orders and also the enslaved.

Question 22

Leader of the Barbados Revolution.

Answer 22

The leader of the Barbados Revolution was abuses who assisted by some free coloureds were able to coincide the revolt with the easter celebrations when the height of cane provided cover for their activities. The planters were also most vulnerable at this time.

Question 23

Consequences of the Barbados Revolution.

Answer 23

The revolt only lasted 4 days but it cause significant losses to planters. 144 rebels were executed, 70 were sentenced to death and 123 to transportation. The revolt had a regional impact on the system of British colonization was shaken and St. Lucia, St. Vincent and Demerara declared martial law as a protective measure.

Question 24

Causes of Demerara Revolution.

Answer 24

A rumor that the king that had freed the enslaved Africans but that the authorities in Georgetown were blocking this sparked the revolt of 1823.

Question 25

Consequences of Demerara Revolution.

Answer 25

47 rebels were hanged and others were flogged or imprisoned. Blame was put on the Reverend John Smith who was arrested and charged with having stirred up the rebellion.

Question 26

Causes of Jamaican Revolution.

Answer 26

As in Guyana, it was believed that freedom had been issued by the king but that the Jamaican authority were keeping it back. Sharpe planned a strike after the Christmas break holiday, to force managers to pay wages to enslaved workers.

Question 27

Consequences of the Jamaican Revolution.

Answer 27

Missionaries and preachers were blamed for the uprising. Sharpe was among those slaves hanged but men like William Knibb were arrested in charges for inciting rebellion. Churches were also destroyed and homes of religious leaders were raided. These cases were used by humanitarians to highlight the urgent action of ending enslavement.