THE BERBICE REBELLION, 1763 GUYANA

Question 1

berbice rebellion

Answer 1

In February 1763, enslaved people on four plantations revolted. They selectively murdered Europeans on the first day to “secure their freedom and to exact revenge.” They set fires as revolt spread to other plantations. In many cases, they took over food stores, ammunition, and whole households. Europeans fled. Some made it to safety, others were killed.

Question 2

Reasons for revolt

Answer 2

1. desire for revenge
2. the slaves wanted permanent freedom
3. apathy of whites and their indifference, they whites underestimated how the slaves felt about their mistreatment, thought they were docile
4. were inspired by the maroon revolt in Suriname, 1762

Question 3

Reasons for initial success

Answer 3

1. leadership of Cuffy/Kofi/Coffy and his assitants Akara and Atta
2. discipline and military organisation were fairly strong
3. slaves outnumbered whites- easier to overthrow whites
4. many of the slaves were Africa-born therefore they knew of a live before slavery and therefore were more vengeful than the creoles
5. they had the element of surprise- whites guard would be down and would not be as orgainsed
6. the planters were complacent, they were ‘laid back’ the forts were dilapidated, only twelve soldiers were defending the colony at the time
7. slaves were able to gain arms and ammunition
8. dysentery epidemic affected whites (weakened the arm forces)
9. disunity among whites
10. amerindians who the whites were depending on for help fled

Question 4

Reasons why the rebellion failed

Answer 4

1. cuffy began to play politics, he wrote letters to the governor suggesting they divide the colony. by doing this he lost valuble time.
2. the governor was simply stalling cuffy until reinforcements arrived and he received military assistance including 600 men and 6 transport vessels from Europe and 100 troops from Suriname
3. the troops had superior weapons and were better trained and more skillful in warfare
4. governor also got help from the amerindians
5. some slaves were unwilling to put in the hardwork to achieve their full freedom and a new black colony
6. a shortage of food led to discontent among rebels
7. some creole slaves willingly surrendered
8. Divison among rebels specifically among the leadership, cuffy wanted to negotiate with the whites while Akara wanted to expel them completely
9. Power struggle, Atta one of his assistants, was an extremist this diverted Cuffy’s attention from the rebellion
10. In may, Cuffy killed his close followers and himself
11. Atta became the rebellion’s leader but was later ambushed and captured.

Question 5

Reasons why cuffy lost leadership

Answer 5

1. he was too accommodating, he waited on governor van hoogenheim to get a reply from holland when in truth he was simply stalling cuffy until reinforcements came so he could crush the rebellion.
2. procrastination and failure to capitalise on the military advantage they had earlier on…slowed down the momentum of the rebellion
3. division among slaves robbed him of the support of everyone
4. young militants like atta challenged his leadership

Question 6

why cuffy was considered the leader

Answer 6

1. both slaves and whites considered him the mastermind
2. no other slave was acknowledged as leader, other ringleaders like akara were called deputies
3. tried to maintain the plantation based economy and even put a group of africans to work in the fields
4. it was cuffy’s leadership in the end that was challenged by atta