CSEC Caribbean History: Resistance and Revolt Study Notes

CSEC Caribbean History: Theme 3 - Resistance and Revolt

Forms of Slave Control

Legal Control

  • Slavery as a Legal Institution: Slavery was sanctioned by law across various colonies. Each colony enacted laws to regulate the treatment and control of enslaved people.

    • Spanish Law - Siete Partidas: Instituted to govern the treatment of slaves in Spanish colonies.

    • French Law - Code Noir: Established specific regulations regarding slavery in French colonies.

    • English Approach: The English government opted not to create uniform laws, allowing individual Assemblies in the colonies to enact their laws to suit local conditions. This decision was made to avoid the complication of developing laws that may not be suitable for each colony.

    • Rationale: It relieved the British government from the burden of legislative responsibility while maximizing revenues from colonies viewed as valuable resources ('jewels in her Crown').

    • Influence of Local Assemblies: Strong Assemblies, primarily composed of sugar planters, were responsible for creating provisions that reflected their views on slave treatment.

    • View of Slaves: The British perspective depicted slaves as chattel property, leading to minimal regard for their rights, including marriage and manumission.

    • French Regulation: Lack of a dominant plantocracy meant laws were centralized and lacked local input until 1785 when local assemblies were formed.

    • Spanish Perspective: Acknowledged slaves as less than full humans, arguing slavery was a necessary evil that carried a Christian responsibility—reflected in laws benefitting slaves with certain rights.

    • Spanish Legal Protections: Rights included not being starved or overworked, access to the Roman Catholic Church, ability to marry without owner’s permission, and family rights.

Economic Control

  • Both British and French planters exerted control over the economic aspects of slaves' lives:

    • Restrictions on Possessions:

    • Slaves were forbidden to possess property legally or make legal contracts.

    • Stolen animals were punishable by death.

    • Slaves received no wages and could be sold off as personal property to settle debts.

    • Land ownership was prohibited, though they were permitted small plots to cultivate provisions to lessen the planters' food import expenses.

Psychological / Ideological Control

  • Racial Ideology: Whites propagated the belief that Africans were uncivilized, claiming to bring them European civilization and Christianity.

  • Cultural Denial: Slaves, particularly African-born ones, were stripped of their cultural identities, forced to adopt names assigned by their owners.

  • Spirit Suppression: Efforts to crush the spirit of slaves met resistance, with groups such as Ashanti and Mandingo known for their resilience.

  • Role of Slave Drivers: Leadership roles among enslaved groups, like the slave drivers, led to animosity between these individuals and other slaves due to their perceived betrayal.

Social Control

  • Food, Clothing, and Housing Regulations: Planters controlled slaves' diets, clothing quality, living conditions, and education:

    • Culinary Control: Planters specified dietary requirements and eating times.

    • Housing Conditions: Slaves built inadequate huts dictated by the overseers, designed to emphasize inferiority (one room, one window, one door, dirt floors).

    • Clothing: Adult slaves were provided with two suits of clothing per year, while children went without clothes until around age six, and domestic slaves often received hand-me-downs.

    • Education Denial: Education was prohibited, fostering ignorance as a significant control method.

Physical Control

  • Surveillance: Owners monitored slaves' movements closely, utilizing overseers, drivers, and watchmen.

    • Punishments: Punishments were commonly physical, with whipping being the most prevalent, instilling fear to maintain compliance.

    • Work Hours: Slaves endured long hours of labor, up to fourteen hours daily under strict supervision, only permitted to leave the estate with a pass.

Cultural Control

  • Religious Restrictions: Slaves were coerced into adopting their owners' religion and restricted to the back of churches.

  • Cultural Suppression: Cultural expressions, including music and dance, were deemed inappropriate and subjected to severe penalties.

  • Communication Methods: Aspects of culture that facilitated revolt, such as drumming, were explicitly banned due to their potential to organize rebellion.

Forms of Resistance of Enslaved Men and Women

  • Motivations for Resistance: Various motives prompted enslaved people to resist:

    • Desire for Freedom: An inherent rejection of being treated as property.

    • Abuse by Masters: Experiences of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, particularly faced by female slaves.

    • Disproportionate Punishments: Harsh penalties that exceeded the nature of the supposed crime.

    • Forced Labor: Slaves worked without compensation, while planters profited significantly.

    • Denial of Rights: Loss of personal rights, including name and family rights.

    • Longing for Africa: Emotional ties to their homeland prompted desires to return.

    • Inhumane Working Conditions: Heavy workloads and mistreatment sparked resistance.

Types of Resistance

Non-Insurrectionary (Passive) Resistance

  • Definition: Subtle, largely unnoticed methods employed by slaves to express dissent:

    • Suicide: Many slaves believed death led to a return to Africa, representing ultimate freedom.

    • Malingering: Deliberately reducing work output (known as ‘go slow').

    • Ill-Treatment of Estate Animals: Deliberately harming estate animals to inflict financial damage on planters.

    • Murder by Poison: Using poisoning methods, notably with arsenic, to kill overseers and other oppressors (e.g., Barbadian overseer poisoned in 1774).

    • Feigning Madness: Pretending to misunderstand orders, known as the ‘Quashie syndrome.’

    • Feigning Illness: Pretending to be ill or inflicting injuries to avoid work.

    • Runaways: Escaping or running away was common.

Insurrectionary (Active) Resistance

  • Definition: Violent collective actions taken against slavery, often leading to significant damage:

    • Slave Revolts: The first recorded revolt occurred in 1656 in Guadeloupe; revolts increased significantly over time.

    • Characteristics of Revolts: Involved burning canefields, killing estate animals, destroying machinery, and attacking whites.

Methods of Female Resistance

  • Reproductive Resistance: Women prolonged weaning periods to maximize time; some intentionally miscarried.

  • Insolence: Women frequently faced charges for insolence, often as a form of rebellion.

  • Concubinage: Using relationships with planters to gain advantages (better conditions, meals, etc.), while undermining the planter's wife’s authority.

  • Cultural Resistance: Mothers transmitted African traditions despite attempts to suppress them.