Jean Rhys's Wide Sargasso Sea takes place soon after the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 was put into action. In late December of 1831 an immense slave revolt called The Baptist War or Christmas Rebellion transpired in Jamaica. Its purpose was for the slaves to receive working wage for their labor. Although it began as a simple strike, after the slaves were refused wages of any kind, it developed into a putsch when the plantation owners refused to meet the slave's demands. The sheer scope of this uprising,a 10 day movement which saw over 60,000 of Jamaica's slaves joining the movement, led it become the most substantial slave insurgence in all the British West Indies. Due to the incalcuable loss of lives and destruction of property, the British Parliament held two inquiries which greatly contributed to the signing of the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833.
In the beginning, only slaves below the age of 6 were actually freed in the colonies, everyone above this age became an "apprentice," although this too was soon abolished as well, due to peaceful protests. The former slave owners were awarded a total of 20 million pounds in total for their loss.
Interestingly, the Slavery Abolition Act was repealed in its entirety in 1998. Although it did not make slavery legal in the United Kingdom once more, it did in fact overrule other laws that were signed into practice along with it:
"An Act to promote the reform of the statute law by the repeal, in accordance with recommendations of the Law Commission and the Scottish Law Commission, of certain enactments which (except in so far as their effect is preserved) are no longer of practical utility, and to make other provision in connection with the repeal of those enactments." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statute_Law_(Repeals)_Act_1998
The leader of The Christmas Rebellion, Baptist deacon Samuel Sharpe, is now a national hero in Jamica and his likeness adorns the island nation's currency.
In the beginning, only slaves below the age of 6 were actually freed in the colonies, everyone above this age became an "apprentice," although this too was soon abolished as well, due to peaceful protests. The former slave owners were awarded a total of 20 million pounds in total for their loss.
Interestingly, the Slavery Abolition Act was repealed in its entirety in 1998. Although it did not make slavery legal in the United Kingdom once more, it did in fact overrule other laws that were signed into practice along with it:
"An Act to promote the reform of the statute law by the repeal, in accordance with recommendations of the Law Commission and the Scottish Law Commission, of certain enactments which (except in so far as their effect is preserved) are no longer of practical utility, and to make other provision in connection with the repeal of those enactments." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statute_Law_(Repeals)_Act_1998
The leader of The Christmas Rebellion, Baptist deacon Samuel Sharpe, is now a national hero in Jamica and his likeness adorns the island nation's currency.
That is interesting research. I did not know the specifics Jamaica went through with their slavery abolition. It is terrible it took Jamaica until 1998 to end slavery completely.
ReplyDeleteIn a way I personally felt bad for Antoinette, and even her mother. Even though they was white and their familiy used to won slaves, I do not think it was entirely their fault. The white men controlled what happened and they had to marry back then. So, it was not Antoinette's mother's fault and it was not Antoinette's fault that their family owned slaves. I do not think they should have had to suffer like they did when their house burn down that night.
I'm glad that your blog post involves a background history describing the social and legal changes that were occurring in Jamaica at this time. Your research here really helps put the events of the story into context. I am of Caribbean descent, but I'm not that familiar with major historical events in the Caribbean, so your blog post was definitely informative for me.
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