Nature of Apprenticeship System in Mauritius: From 1835 to 1839
Discuss the nature of the apprenticeship system in Mauritius between 1835 and 1839.
The consequence is, a system will spring up, aristocratical or oligarchical against which the slave may struggle a century without attaining that equality he is vainly thought to possess (E. Baker, in J. Backhouse, Memoirs, 74)1
The apprenticeship system was inaugurated in Mauritius on 1 February 1835. It was initially designed to accustom ex-slaves to their new responsibilities as free citizens, following the Bill, British parliament had passed into law in 1833 to abolish slavery throughout the British Empire. The legal framework of apprenticeship was established by an Order in Council of 17th September 1834. The apprentice was a new category of person, neither slave nor free as V.Teelock had stated the ‘half-slave and the half-free’. However some contemporary observers notably Baker and Blackhouse, were inclined to think that the apprenticeship system was a continuation of slavery.
On 1st February 1835, the day of emancipation, there was little joyous celebration on the part of slaves. They felt they had been cheated out of emancipation because they were still forced to work for the same owner for no pay. ‘They did not see the distinction between slavery and apprenticeship’ reports d 'Arvoy, for indeed, there was none. This was due to the fact that although the Abolition Act of 1833 had conferred freedom for all slaves’ children in plantation colonies who were not six of age and those born after the passage of the Act was declared as free person, but every person who were over six of age although they became free were required to work for their former owners for a limited period as “apprentices”. The agricultural slaves were to work for 6years while domestic were to serve for 4 years. In addition the Act also provided for £20 million to be given as compensation to owners of the slaves.2
The Apprenticeship system in Mauritius was governed by the Order in Council of 17
The consequence is, a system will spring up, aristocratical or oligarchical against which the slave may struggle a century without attaining that equality he is vainly thought to possess (E. Baker, in J. Backhouse, Memoirs, 74)1
The apprenticeship system was inaugurated in Mauritius on 1 February 1835. It was initially designed to accustom ex-slaves to their new responsibilities as free citizens, following the Bill, British parliament had passed into law in 1833 to abolish slavery throughout the British Empire. The legal framework of apprenticeship was established by an Order in Council of 17th September 1834. The apprentice was a new category of person, neither slave nor free as V.Teelock had stated the ‘half-slave and the half-free’. However some contemporary observers notably Baker and Blackhouse, were inclined to think that the apprenticeship system was a continuation of slavery.
On 1st February 1835, the day of emancipation, there was little joyous celebration on the part of slaves. They felt they had been cheated out of emancipation because they were still forced to work for the same owner for no pay. ‘They did not see the distinction between slavery and apprenticeship’ reports d 'Arvoy, for indeed, there was none. This was due to the fact that although the Abolition Act of 1833 had conferred freedom for all slaves’ children in plantation colonies who were not six of age and those born after the passage of the Act was declared as free person, but every person who were over six of age although they became free were required to work for their former owners for a limited period as “apprentices”. The agricultural slaves were to work for 6years while domestic were to serve for 4 years. In addition the Act also provided for £20 million to be given as compensation to owners of the slaves.2
The Apprenticeship system in Mauritius was governed by the Order in Council of 17
Bibliography: Vijay Teelock_ Bitter Sugar Moses.D.E Nwulia_ The apprenticeship system in Mauritius Discuss the nature of the apprenticeship system in Mauritius between 1835 and 1839. SUBMITTED BY: