The Passing of Infamy: The End of British Caribbean 'Chattel' Slavery

Pre-Emancipation
Before emancipation the type of government in place was the old representative system
(1660’s). It constituted;

o A Governor who represented the crown

o A council – members were selected by the governor
o An assembly - members were selected by planters and merchants (whites)
In essence the government was one that disenfranchised all non-whites. The landowners,
council and assembly would ensure their interests were addressed while the governor saw
to the crown’s interest.

Influential factors in Britain

- Declining economic gains from colonies;

- Pressure from the united nations to end slavery
- Exposure to new economic/industrial ideas
- Pressure from political parties and trade unions

Post Emancipation
Despite being free, the blacks faced continued oppression in the following forms:

o Low wages
o Oppressive laws
o Political disenfranchisement
o Discrimination in property ownership, education, health and welfare services
o Poor housing
o Poverty
o Harsh punishment
o High taxes
o High cost of living
o Injustice in court
o Government indifference

Peasantry

Peasantry in the Caribbean dates back to 1838. Technically, peasantry is a

combination of the cultivation of a variety of goods and the raising of a variety of animals on
fairly small pieces of property without the aid of hired labour and largely for subsistence
purposes. Briefly and Ruben (1988) describe peasants as typically economically deprived
people at the lower strata of society.