Peasantry and the Caribbean
Course description
The slaves in the British Caribbean had high expectations of freedom. They hoped that it would give them, amongst others, the vote and control over their time and labour. This course explores the extent to which these and other expectations of freedom were realised in the period between the abolition of slavery in 1838 and independence in the early 1960s. It examines in some detail the various factors inside and outside the region that impacted on the ability of the former slaves and their descendants to fulfil their hopes of freedom, such as the legal and extra-legal constraints that sugar planters placed on the lives of their former slaves; a social hierarchy in which colour coincided with class; and the decline of the sugar industry. These and other obstacles, however, did not prevent the former slaves and their descendants from trying to realise their notion of freedom. Through such means as petitions, the formation of political organisations and unions, migration, and revolt, they contested the terms of their lived freedom. By exploring these means and the social, political and economic condition of the former slaves and their descendants, this course will try to debunk the myth that slave emancipation was a crowning achievement.
Learning outcomes
After completing the course students should:
1. Be familiar with the main economic, social and political developments in the post-emancipation British Caribbean.
2. Understand that freedom was a highly contested issue in the post-emancipation British Caribbean.
3. Be able to describe and explain the methods used by the former slaves and their descendants to negotiate and contest the actual lived terms of freedom
4. Be familiar with the main historical debates about the post-emancipation British Caribbean.
5. Have enhanced their presentation skills and their ability to analyse and evaluate primary and secondary sources.
Teaching programme
The course is taught through two
The slaves in the British Caribbean had high expectations of freedom. They hoped that it would give them, amongst others, the vote and control over their time and labour. This course explores the extent to which these and other expectations of freedom were realised in the period between the abolition of slavery in 1838 and independence in the early 1960s. It examines in some detail the various factors inside and outside the region that impacted on the ability of the former slaves and their descendants to fulfil their hopes of freedom, such as the legal and extra-legal constraints that sugar planters placed on the lives of their former slaves; a social hierarchy in which colour coincided with class; and the decline of the sugar industry. These and other obstacles, however, did not prevent the former slaves and their descendants from trying to realise their notion of freedom. Through such means as petitions, the formation of political organisations and unions, migration, and revolt, they contested the terms of their lived freedom. By exploring these means and the social, political and economic condition of the former slaves and their descendants, this course will try to debunk the myth that slave emancipation was a crowning achievement.
Learning outcomes
After completing the course students should:
1. Be familiar with the main economic, social and political developments in the post-emancipation British Caribbean.
2. Understand that freedom was a highly contested issue in the post-emancipation British Caribbean.
3. Be able to describe and explain the methods used by the former slaves and their descendants to negotiate and contest the actual lived terms of freedom
4. Be familiar with the main historical debates about the post-emancipation British Caribbean.
5. Have enhanced their presentation skills and their ability to analyse and evaluate primary and secondary sources.
Teaching programme
The course is taught through two