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1807 - 1966 - Barbados From Emancipation to Independence
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Barbados had travelled a long and winding journey through to the abolition of slavery in 1807. Changing from an original settlement that survived on growing crops, through to a country dependent on tobacco and white indentured servants to an economy built on sugarcane and black slaves.
The plantation owners were reluctant to bring in reforms after the Humanitarian movement in England had secured the freedom of slavery in 1807. Using arguments that Barbados would be plunged into anarchy, they restricted the freedom of slaves for as long as possible.
However, the Bussa uprising in 1816 increased pressure on the British government to address the issue of slavery in the colonies. And so on August 28th, 1833 the Emancipation Act was signed, and brought into on August 1st, 1834.
The Emancipation Act granted each slave an apprenticeship of four years, if they were domestic servants, or six years if they worked in the field. At the end of the apprenticeship they would be freemen of Barbados.
As the apprenticeship was introduced, the plantation owners found it hard to keep the peace, and complained that the system was costing them too much money, so it was agreed that on August 1st, 1838, all slaves were to be set free.
When that momentous day arrived, the doomsayers were proved wrong. Thanks, in part to the Anglican Church already providing religious and sociological education to the slaves, the day passed without riot or fuss. Indeed, the first thing the slaves did was flock to their churches to hear the words of the clergymen.
Barbados was never to be the same again. Whilst this incredible day passed without huge uproar, the momentum to a full independent country with a parliament made of full representation was now underway.
Initially, the system in Barbados remained similar to before. The free black labourers were allowed to stay in the cottages they had before when they were slaves, and keep the small parcels of land to grow their crops. However, these were only rented to them in return for either payment or work.
They were obliged to work the land of the plantation owner in return for a salary, which was typically 20% to 30% lower than market wages. In a sense, a feudal system was now in place, although the more thrifty freemen were able to start to accumulate wealth through savings.
Unlike other Caribbean islands, such as Jamaica or Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados did not have open land for the freemen to take over and develop free villages. Plantation owners were reluctant to break up their land into plots to sell off, as sugarcane production required large acres to be cost effective.
Despite the reluctance, occasional land would come up for sale. Particularly, in 1841, Reynold Alleyne Elcock bequeathed that the labourers on his land should be able to purchase land on his estate. Fourteen years later, Peter Chapman followed suit, and these two men assisted in the creation of some of the first free villages in Barbados.
Meanwhile, the Barbadian plantation owners increased efficiency in their sugar cane production, introducing steam-powered machines and looking for better methods of refinery. This foresight enabled Barbados to survive as an island tied essentially to a mono-crop production and by 1848 Barbados sugarcane production was one of the cheapest across the British colonies.
However, this tide of wealth did not exist forever. Increased competition, combined with natural disasters and disease created poor economic conditions for the Barbadian plantation owners. Production costs were higher than sales costs and plantation owners were forced to sell their property to cover debts.
At the same time, the free labourers were able to leave Barbados to seek fortunes overseas, and particularly in Panama. By 1909, it is estimated that 20,000 Barbadian men had emigrated to Panama to assist in the development of the Panama Canal. These emigrated workers were able to send substantial sums of money back home to Barbados, and some even returned with savings of £20,000.
The first major sociological change now occurred; the free labourers were in a position to take advantage of the poor sugarcane production and the property available for sale.
Between 1900 and 1919, 158 Barbados plantations were sold through auction. Most of the land was turned into free villages, where the local population were able to sustain their property through working abroad rather than depending on the poor sugarcane conditions. Such was the change of ownership, that in 1840 there were only 934 smallholdings of less than ten acres; but by 1930 there were nearly 18,000.
During this period, further sociological changes were brought into effect. The First World War brought a dramatic resurgence in sugar demand, as several European sugar beet fields had been destroyed. Barbados suddenly went through a resurgence in wealth and several plantation owners were able to clear their debts.
In 1921, Income Tax was introduced and riding on the back of the new wave of sugarcane money pouring into the island, enough tax money was made to be put aside for a hurricane relief fund on top of developing the island.
However, as with all booms, it couldn't last. In 1925 sugar prices started to fall again and labourers looked to emigrate for work abroad. But by the mid 1930's work abroad started to dry up and Barbados was suddenly faced with a burgeoning population with little way of finding satisfactory employment.
On July 26th, 1937 the dissatisfaction created by the combination of overpopulation, low wages and lack of employment opportunities escalated into a riot. Out of the fervour, the Barbados Labour Party was created. (The BLP changed its name to Barbados Progressive League, before returning to its original name that we know today.)
The first President of the Barbados Progressive League was C.A. Braithwaite, but when the group was formalised the following year, Grantley Adams, whose name is given to the Barbados International Airport, was nominated President.
Barbados was now set to the final path to independence.
With the momentum created out of the riots, the ruling party that was still controlled by the white plantocracy had no option but to listen to the new Barbados Progressive League.
In 1942 the Minimum Wage Act was introduced and the voting franchise was reduced from £50 to £20, whilst also allowing women to vote for the first time. The reduction of the voting requirements enabled the Barbados Progressive League to increase its members in the House in the General Election of 1944.
In 1946, the Bushe experiment was put into effect, with the intention of changing the constitution to create a fair system of representation of members of the House that could actually effect laws.
The result of the Bushe experiment paved the way for the abolition of the centuries old Vestry system, and for Barbados to achieve full internal self-government in 1958. The question now was not if Barbados should aim for full independence, but when.
Finally, after 332 years since the first revolt by the white indentured servants, Barbadians achieved their full independence on November 30th, 1966.
The motto "Pride and Industry" is apparent throughout the island today, and the rich diversity of cultures can still be seen and enjoyed throughout the island.
Barbados is an island of sun, sea and sand - but more importantly of self-governance and respect for people of all creeds and cultures.
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Information Assumed Accurate On: May 5, 2011
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I was a teacher at Harrison College for 2 years and it's nice to read your History. It is very literate and informative.
Date: Aug 8, 2006
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