Caribbean History: THE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF INDENTURESHIP ON THE BRITISH CARIBBEAN BETWEEN THE PERIOD OF 1838 AND 1921
THE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF INDENTURESHIP ON THE BRITISH CARIBBEAN BETWEEN THE PERIOD OF 1838 AND 1921
According to readings in the Caribbean Studies, indentureship is a contract labor system in which the workers were waged to work in the Caribbean. These indentured workers had to sign a contract for their employer ensuring that they will work for them for a period of time usually 3-5 years. They were punished if the contract was breached and received three benefits at the end of their contract. Indentured Labor, however, would wage in accommodation payment of passage and food. Consequently and surprisingly, there is and still are many positive and negative effects arising out of the introduction of indentured labor in the Caribbean between the periods 1838 to 1921 (Advantages and Disadvantages of Indentured Labour in the Caribbean, 2013). The indentured laborers and the plantation owners were recipients of these positive and negative results of indentured labor. This paper will discuss some of the positive and negatives of this subject matter.
The first set of indentured laborers was poor whites, convicts and farmers, who were brought from Britain and France and were forced to sign the contracts. European enslavers who did not have Tainos and Kalinagos used white indentured laborers (Beckles Hilary McD., 2004) (Advantages and Disadvantages of Indentured Labour in the Caribbean, 2013). This research will focus on the British Caribbean indentures and planters and the positive and negative effects on them both.
The positive effects of indentureship on the life of the British planter were that it increased the labor force. With the end of the apprenticeship system in 1838, the planters no longer had a labor force they could easily control. The Trainees had now gained their liberty and many were reluctant to work any at all on the plantation (Beckles Hilary McD., 2004). In the smaller territories where the ability to access land was limited and alternative
According to readings in the Caribbean Studies, indentureship is a contract labor system in which the workers were waged to work in the Caribbean. These indentured workers had to sign a contract for their employer ensuring that they will work for them for a period of time usually 3-5 years. They were punished if the contract was breached and received three benefits at the end of their contract. Indentured Labor, however, would wage in accommodation payment of passage and food. Consequently and surprisingly, there is and still are many positive and negative effects arising out of the introduction of indentured labor in the Caribbean between the periods 1838 to 1921 (Advantages and Disadvantages of Indentured Labour in the Caribbean, 2013). The indentured laborers and the plantation owners were recipients of these positive and negative results of indentured labor. This paper will discuss some of the positive and negatives of this subject matter.
The first set of indentured laborers was poor whites, convicts and farmers, who were brought from Britain and France and were forced to sign the contracts. European enslavers who did not have Tainos and Kalinagos used white indentured laborers (Beckles Hilary McD., 2004) (Advantages and Disadvantages of Indentured Labour in the Caribbean, 2013). This research will focus on the British Caribbean indentures and planters and the positive and negative effects on them both.
The positive effects of indentureship on the life of the British planter were that it increased the labor force. With the end of the apprenticeship system in 1838, the planters no longer had a labor force they could easily control. The Trainees had now gained their liberty and many were reluctant to work any at all on the plantation (Beckles Hilary McD., 2004). In the smaller territories where the ability to access land was limited and alternative
Cited: Advantages and Disadvantages of Indentured Labour in the Caribbean. (2013, November 17). Retrieved from Anti-Essays: http://www.antiessays.com/free-essays/334728.html Beckles Hilary McD., S. V. (2004). Liberties Lost: The Indigenous Caribbean and Slave Systems. Cambridge University Press. European and Asian Indentureship. (2013, November 1). Retrieved from Cars2301: Caribbean Studies 2013: www.carslibrary.wikispaces.com/file/.../European+and+Asian+Indentureship.doc