1. britain and the caribbean

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.