Background to Emancipation
1 Amelioration
2 Abolition
o human trade
o act of slavery
3 Apprenticeship
4 Full Freedom
Amelioration
Slavery benefitted the planters economically and socially (Beckles & Shepherd, 2004). To abolish slavery they would lose much profit and cause anarchy and financial ruin for the slaves (Beckles et al.,2004 ; American History, 2012). So the British government decided to ameliorate the conditions of slavery by formulating the Amelioration Proposals. They thought that these proposals would encourage men and women to marry and have babies (Beckles et.al,2004)
The word ‘ameliorate' means to improve or make better. The Amelioration Proposals were therefore designed to improve the conditions of the enslaved on the plantations.
Accepted
The British Parliament accepted the proposals that were put forward by the West India Lobby. These absentee planters felt that England would delay the abolition process if the planters treated their slaves better.
Besides it was only sensible on their part to treat the enslaved better so that they could live and work longer since they could no longer get slaves to buy.
England liked the idea.
She was alarmed at the violent response of both planters and enslaved to the Registry Bill and thought that this would actually help the ‘relationship' between the two parties. She was also afraid that what happened in Haiti could also happen in any one of her colonies given the anger and resentment that had been building up. The enslaved would certainly revolt if there was no improvement in their horrid conditions.
The Abolitionists also supported the bill.
They felt that something needed to be done about the inhumane conditions that existed on the sugar estates. In fact they had drafted their own set of amelioration proposals to present to Parliament.
The Secretary of State Lord Bathurst dispatched the proposals to the colonies.
Reaction
· Jamaican planters were furious
o refused to adopt the proposals
· Barbados planters were annoyed
o Had done enough for the enslaved already
o The slaves should be content with what they have
· St. Vincent and Dominica
o Same reaction
· The Abolitionists formed the Anti-Slavery Society in that same year-1823
o There were 122 branches of the society in England within a year's time.
o Others joined the movement
§ factory workers,
§ industrialists,
§ economists,
§ investors.
For the next 10 years they worked feverishly to get the British Parliament to pass the law in 1833.
· More profit from the British Industrial Revolution.
o Steam engine
o Improved roads and railway
o factories
· Less profit from West India Sugar
Political changes
o Modified crown colony
v Governor
§ Powers
· Executive
· judiciary
v Executive council
v Legislative council
§ Nominated
§ Elected
v Blacks and coloureds who had property could now vote
Resources
http://www.ushistory.org/us/
http://www.nlj.gov.jm/jamaican-history-notes#chinese
Liberties Lost
Freedoms Won