Resistance and Revolts

Major Revolts

Caribbean History
01 San Juan South Secondary
 Resistance and Revolts
Major Revolts

1763 1816 1823 1831

Berbice Barbados Demerara Jamaica

Revolt Revolt Revolt Revolt

Caribbean History
02 San Juan South Secondary
Berbice Revolt - 1763
• This was a slave revolt that occurred in British Guiana in
1763
• The revolution began on February 23, 1763 at Plantation
Magdelenenberg owned by a widow, Madam Vernesobre on
the Caje River.
• The slaves killed the manager and carpenter, burned down
the owner's house, and moved on to neighbouring
plantations along the Berbice River.
• Coffy, a house slave, became the leader and set up
headquarters at Plantations Hollandia and Zeelandia
 Causes of Revolt

• Some slaves were taking revenge because of the ill treatment they
received from managers and overseers.
• Some slaves wished for permanent freedom from the Dutch and felt
that a revolt was the only way to achieve this.
• Some slaves received little or no provisions because the planters did
not grow enough on the estate and the Berbice Association cut down
food imports.
• The slaves knew that the whites were weakened as a group (both in
size and physically)
• The slaves were inspired to start a revolt by a Maroon revolt in
Suriname in the year 1762