LEARNING INTENTIONS
• Describe Britain’s role in the Caribbean, including islands it held as colonies
• Describe the negative effects of slavery on the Caribbean
As an imperial power, Britain had colonies all over the world. The main places that Britain controlled which used slavery were in the Caribbean, a group of islands in the
Americas.
Britain controlled various islands in the Caribbean, including Jamaica, Barbados,
the Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago.
Around 1.6 million Africans were taken to
work as slaves in British Caribbean
colonies.
The Caribbean was very important to Britain.
It provided popular products such as sugar.
The sales of these products made many Britons rich, and also raised tax money for
Britain too.
Many Britons worked in the Caribbean.
Some chose to go as bond servants. At times prisoners were sent as
punishment.
Other Britons ran the islands as governors, or
worked as plantation owners. Sailors had a
role too.
The slave trade did not only have a negative impact on Africa – it had a major effect on the Caribbean too.
What problems do you think that
slavery caused for the Caribbean
islands?
Arawak natives became slaves
Before African slavery, native Americans were
forced to work as slaves in the Caribbean.
Loss of native landLand which had been
owned by Arawak tribes was taken by European
colonists to grow products for sale in Europe.
Arawaks killed by disease
Native Americans’ immune systems could not cope with European diseases
such as smallpox.Lack of workersAfter slavery was
abolished there was a lack of workers. Many Asian people then moved to the
Caribbean.
Poor slave treatmentSlaves were treated very
poorly, working long hours in hot conditions. More slaves died than
were born.Increased population
African slaves led to a big population increase in the
Caribbean, putting pressure on food and water supplies.
Changing cultureAfricans brought their
own culture and traditions to the islands,
including music.
The voodoo religion was a created from a
mixture of African religion and French Catholicism on the
island of Haiti.
Many Caribbean islands are demanding
compensation from European colonists.
Governments in various islands
believe countries such as Britain should apologise for the impact of the slave
trade.