Plantation owners were a dominant force and their success made Barbados dominate the sugar industry in the Caribbean in the early years. As the profits from the sugar industry increased, then so did the importance of Barbados, especially as the island was also becoming increasingly valued as a military headquarters because of its strategic position in relation to the other islands.
Being a secure and safe harbour meant that the island was also becoming a vital link in the ever growing trade routes between Europe and the New World. The end results of these developments is that in the early 1700's Barbados began to be populated by a greater number of higher caliber, better educated people whose perceptions and social concerns differed greatly to the early pioneers. In effect Barbados began to lose some of its rough edges and became more refined.
By 1703 there was a monthly mail boat service in operation and soon members of the Society for the Propogation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts came to Barbados promoting the revolutionary doctrine that the slaves deserved to be introduced to Christianity and given an education. Although most planters were outraged at this idea, a wealthy landowner by the name of Christopher Codrington left his entire property to this cause.
Codrington had been educated at Oxford University and also served as a general in the English army. He deserves enormous credit for taking this very progressive step at a time when he would have been vilified by most of his peers. As a results of his benevolence, Codrington College, the island's first institution of higher learning, was opened in 1710 and is still in operation today.
As part of its improving reputation, Barbados became quite well known as a health spa. As such Barbados, albeit unwittingly, made a major contribution to the USA of today when a 19 year old George Washington visited the island in 1751. Accompanied by his brother Lawrence, this was Washington's one and only journey outside America. You can read the full story of Washington's visit to Barbados that affected US history, follow the link at the bottom of the page.
Emancipation and Change 1765 - 1843
By the middle of the century international opposition against slavery was growing, and by 1765 both the Moravian Church and the Anglican Missionary were in Barbados striving to educate the slaves and introduce them to Christianity.
The British Parliament made Barbados an example for the rest of the world and abolished the slave trade in 1807. However, this benchmark legislation did not bring about the emancipation that the slaves in Barbados had so eagerly anticipated. Their discontentment and frustration smouldered over the next decade before ultimately erupting into flame with the major insurrection of 1816. Commonly known as the "Bussa" Rebellion, this uprising cost the lives of hundreds of slaves killed by the militia, as well as the slave leader Bussa and hundreds of others who were all executed.
After this bloody and costly insurrection, and a request from the Barbadian House of Assembly, the British Parliament finally agreed to allow Barbados to pass its own slave registry bill, thus making it possible to delete the slave laws from the Barbados legislation. Abolition was finally realized in Barbados in 1834, some 29 years before the United States.
In honour of this event in history The Emancipation Statue, sculpted by Barbados' best known sculptor Karl Broodhagen, was erected to symbolize the breaking of the chains of slavery at Emancipation. This statue, commonly referred to as Bussa, can be seen today in the middle of the roundabout where the H5 meets the highway.
The events of 1834 was still not emancipation, however, as an "Apprentice System" followed for four years. It was not until 1838 that the Legislative Assembly finally approved full emancipation. Although some discriminatory practices persisted, a huge social change had been implemented. With this change there evolved a new middle class as former slaves took advantage of the superb education available. Out of their ranks emerged Samuel Jackman Prescod who became the first non-white member of the House of Assembly in 1843.
At this time improvements were made in health and education systems and the right to vote was extended to anyone earning 50 pounds sterling per year.
Continue reading more by viewing Better Progress 1850 - 1961.
You can read the full story of George Washington's visit to Barbados that affected US history by clicking on this link. |
