-
Period: to
The Caribbean 1750-1900
-
Sugar Consumption Doubles
By 1750, the annual British consumption of sugar had doubled. This meant their was a greater demand for sugar, paving the way for the future sugar plantation growth. The sugar plantations, fueled by the growing demand, not only grew in size, but in number as well. http://depositphotos.com/6708282/stock-illustration-Sugar-Cane-vintage-engraving.html -
Tacky's Slave Rebellion
In Jamaica, a rebellion leader, Tacky, directed the taking over of plantations and the killing of white plantation owners. The goal of the rebellion was to overthrow British rule in Jamaica, but it was cut short when a slave on one of the rebellion controlled plantations told authorities. It is said this rebellion was the biggest movement in the Caribbean until the Haitian Revolution. http://atlantablackstar.com/2013/09/26/15-black-uprisings-european-arab-opression-wont-teach-schools/6/ -
English Seize Havana
The Battle of Havana was fought between the English and the Spanish that controlled Havana during the Seven Years War. The British only controlled Havana for a short time however, as it was returned to the Spanish with the Treaty of Paris. The importance Havana had to Spain was it being a naval base, so when it was lost, the Spanish navy suffered. http://www.kronoskaf.com/syw/index.php?title=1762_-_British_expedition_against_Havana_%E2%80%93_Siege_till_the_capture_of_Morro_Castle -
The French Lose Canada
The French colonies in North America were threatened by the growing population and prosperity of the neighboring English colonies. This brought on the French and Indian War, which eventually resulted in the French loss of Canada to the English in 1763 with the Treaty of Paris. The French then focused their attention to their colonies and sugar plantations in the Caribbean. http://www.wpclipart.com/American_History/maps/Treaty_of_Paris_1763.png.html -
Jamaican Sugar Plantation Yield Increase
New technology in the Caribbean led to the improvement of sugar plantations, especially in the amount of sugar they could yield. The following quotation taken from the AP World History textbook shows just how beneficial the new technology was: "In 1774 Jamaica's 680 sugar plantations averaged 441 acres each; the largest reached over 2,000 acres." http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-18784730 -
Birth and Death on a Jamaican Sugar Plantation (1779 - 1785)
The working conditions of slaves on Jamaican sugar plantations were some of the worst seen at the time.The harsh working conditions killed off many slaves, however, Caribbean diseases also killed many slaves, as they had not yet developed immunity to them. The chart to the left shows data on the birth and death rates of slaves on a Jamican sugar plantation. Taken from AP World History Textbook -
Slave Occupations on a Jamaican Sugar Plantation
By 1788, the economy of Jamaica was dominated by the sugar plantations managed mostly by the French, Dutch, and/or English. Other than Brazil, the Caribbean was the place in which the most slaves were imported. It also was home to some of the worst working conditions of slavery. The chart to the left shows how labor on sugar plantations was divided, not only by job, but also but the number of slaves which were assigned this job. Taken from page 508 of AP World History textbook. -
Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen
On this date the French National Convention issued the Declaratoin of the RIghts of Man and of the Citizen. Although this occured in France, the Declaration had a large impact on the Haitian Revolution, as it sparked anti-slavery thoughts in the Haitian people. The Declaration also had a great impact on the daily lives of the people living in French colonies, like Haiti. http://bastille-day.com/history/French-Revolution -
Slave Rebellion
With the French Revolution breaking out in France, the slaves of St. Domingue started an enormous slave rebellion. This resulted in American leaders providing aid to the white people of St. Domingue. It was when the French Revolutionary leaders convinced Toussaint L'Ouverture that they were commited to ending slavery, that a revolution began in Haiti. http://sites.uci.edu/slaverebellionswinter2011/toussaint-loverture-and-the-establishment-of-haiti/ -
British Surrender St. Domingue
During March of 1798, the British surrendered St. Domingue to Louverture and his army, and begin peace negotionations. This is a huge step in the revolution as it allowed Louverture to gain more power in Haiti against European powers amoung the Haitian people. http://library.brown.edu/haitihistory/8.html -
Louverture's Alliance Treaty
Louverture signed a secret peace treaty on this date with America and Great Britian. This gave Louverture and his army more power against the French forces. http://library.brown.edu/haitihistory/8.html -
The New Constitution
Louverture announced the new constituion in St. Domangue, which made him Governor General for life. The most prominent thing that the constitution did was abolish slavery in Haiti and removed all social distinctions based on color. The constitution also made the people born in the colony full citizens of France. http://www.cpcml.ca/Tmlw2013/W43020.HTM -
Louverture Arrested
Charles Leclerc, a French general who was married to Napoleon's sister, violated an agreement he had with Louverture and arrested him. He lured Louverture into a meeting, where he arrested him as a common criminal, and sent Louverture to France where he would die of tuberculosis in a French prision. http://library.brown.edu/haitihistory/8.html -
Haiti Becomes Independent Nation
After years of stuggle, Haiti finally became an independent nation.Haiti started off rocky, as many countries ostracized them for the fear of more slave revolts. http://www.maplewoodlibrary.org/events/hilton-celebrate-haitian-independence-day/ -
African Slave Trade is Terminated
The colonies dependent on the import of slavery suffered greatly once the trading of African Slaves was terminated. This was especially crippling to the Caribbean sugar plantations, as they were the second largest importer of African slaves. This was the first step in the eventual abolition of slavery in the New World. http://www.roebuckclasses.com/102/resources/africa/westafricaslavery.htm -
The Monroe Doctrine
Issued by President James Monroe, the Monroe Doctrine ordered European powers to stay our of the western hemisphere. This ultimately lead to the absence of European power in the Caribbean after this doctrine was issued. The doctrine influence was exercised multiple times in the next decades, as a way to keep European powers from being imperialistic in the Western Hemisphere, especially in the Caribbean and the surrounding areas. -
Dominican Republic Independence
The Dominican Repulic officially obtained independence from Haiti during this year. Haiti was reluctant to let the DR go, because they were fearful that the French would use the easten half of the island to attact Haiti and gain control back. A few skirmishes happened across Hispanola, but there were no official battles between the Dominicans and Haitian resistance fighters. http://www.our-dominican-republic.com/dominican_republic.html -
The Beginning of the Ten Years' War
The Ten Years' War began when Carlos Manuel de Céspedes declared Cuban independence from Spain and emancipated all the slaves. This motion was largely supported by the eastern half of the island, where the rebels use guerilla warfare against the Spanish. Over 200,000 Cubans and Spaniards died during this war. http://www.nuevayork-exhibition.org/galleries/4/ten-years-war -
Period: to
Ten Years' War
-
End of the Ten Years' War
The Ten Years' War ended after the Spanish promised the abolition of slavery and other reforms. Many of these promises are broken in the later 1800s. This was the first of three wars that Cuba fought against Spain for independence. The last war for independence sparked the Spanish-American War. http://www.capitolhillcubans.com/2011_10_09_archive.html -
The War for Cuban Independence Begins
Slavery in the Caribbean lasted longest in Puerto Rico and Cuba because of the Spanish rule. There was less of a fear of reprucussions of a fight for independence because of the large population of whites and free colored, especially in comparison to British and French colonies in the Caribbean. After being controlled by Spanish, Cuba finally tried to win its independence by initiating a war in 1895. http://www.authentichistory.com/1898-1913/4-imperialism/2-saw/1-prelude/1898_SM_Cuban_Indepen
