Use these points and expand
How 19th Century Revolts contributed to Emancipation (or Abolition of Slavery)
Although the major revolts ended in failure, they had a significant impact on the emancipation
campaign.
1.
The revolts accelerated the pace and movement towards emancipation. Although they did
not succeed in bring about immediate emancipation, the revolts convinced many
parliamentarians that if they were to main colonial authority and control on the colonies, they
needed to abolish enslavement and not reform it.
2. The revolts also demonstrated that the enslaved were not prepared to wait passively for their
freedom. In fact their commitment to insurrection, sent a clear message to the imperial
government and colonial assemblies that they were prepared to take their freedom by force if
the laws to abolish slavery was not forth coming. Frequency of revolts just before emancipation
in 1834 showed the persistence of the slaves. Give examples and details of from notes
Berbice, Demarara, Christmas Revolt .
3. The revolts led to the intensifying of humanitarian campaign against slavery. The treatment of
missionaries in the Caribbean were highlighted and the exploitation by anti-slavery societies in
Britain to impact upon public opinion which had a profound influence on the change in the
British government through the Reform Act (1832). Power changed from the supporters of the
enslaved to those who oppressed it.