Caribbean History School Based Assessment
Candidate’s name: Dylandre Henry , Jaidon Kelly , Gavin Hayles Daquan Duhaney
Candidate’s Registration number: 1001281346, 1001281605, 1001281320
1001280846
Name of school: - Wolmer’s Boys’ School
School Centre number: - 100128
Name of the teacher: Mrs. Nembhard
Year of examination: 2023
Title of the study: To what extent did the Amelioration Laws differ in the French and
British Territories in the 18th - 19th century.
Frontispiece Page
Candidate’s name: Dylandre Henry , Jaidon Kelly , Gavin Hayles
Daquan Duhaney
Candidate’s Registration number:
Name of school: - Wolmer’s Boys’ School
School Centre number: - 100128
Name of the teacher: Mrs. Nembhard
Year of examination: 2023
Title of the study: To what extent did the Amelioration Laws differ in the
French and British Territories in the 18th - 19th century.
Acknowledgement
We must thank the following individuals for their contribution towards the completion of this
project:
Almight God for giving us the the strength to complete the project, our History teacher for her
guidance, assistance and patience and our parents for their guidance and support throughout the
project
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Table of Contents
Acknowledgements………………………………………………………………. I
Rationale.................................................................................................................III
Introduction…………………………………………………………………….IV
Chapter 1………………………………………………………………………….1
Amelioration Laws……………………………………………………………….1
The Amelioration Laws in British Territories……………………………………1
The Amelioration laws in French Territories……………………………………2
Chapter 2…………………………………………………………………………4
The difference between the British and French territories Amelioration Laws…..4
To what extent did they differ……………………………………………………5
Conclusion…………………………………………………………………… …6
Bibliography…………………………………………………………………… 7
II
Rationale
When our 4th form history teacher first introduced us to the topic, we were all captivated by
the amelioration laws in the British and French territories. This is the only reason my group
picked this topic. Because we were left on something of a cliffhanger, we regrettably left class
that day feeling a little disappointed. In our teacher's defence, the curriculum only allowed her to
cover a certain amount of material, but even taking that into account, my group and I still want to
learn more about the British and French amelioration laws. The aim of this SBA is to shed light
on the amelioration laws in the French territories and the British territories, to find the
differences between the amelioration laws in the French and British terroitories and to what
extent did these laws differ from each other. Upon the completion of this SBA, we expect to
expand our knowledge about the amelioration laws and vocabulary, improve our research skills,
and our ability to write written pieces, and further solidify our understanding of this research
topic. We truly hope that whoever comes across this SBA will finish reading it feeling more
informed and achieve a better understanding of the amelioration laws in the Britsh and French
territories and their differences.We will be building the majority of this SBA mainly around
articles, CSEC textbooks and information will also be acquired from the internet.
III
Introduction
The Amelioration Laws were a set of colonial reforms implemented in the late 18th and early
19th centuries in French and British territories. The aim of these laws was to improve the
economic and social conditions of enslaved people.“These laws were passed in both countries in
order to protect the rights of indigenous people and prevent their exploitation by colonizers.The
Amelioration Laws were designed to improve the quality of life for the natives, including
providing basic education, healthcare, and economic development. Furthermore, these laws
aimed to protect the natives from abuses such as forced labor, forced conversion to Christianity,
and compulsory military service”(Maclean 1). The Amelioration Laws were not enforced in the
same way in both countries. While the French policies were more strict and their implementation
was more effective, the British laws were more relaxed and did not always lead to the desired
outcomes for the enslaved peoples. The Amelioration Laws marked a gradual shift towards
abolition, but they did not bring an immediate end to slavery in these territories. In French
territories, the laws were introduced by Napoleon Bonaparte during his reign, while in British
territories, they were a result of pressure from British abolitionist groups and religious
organizations. The laws varied in their specific provisions, but they generally aimed to abolish
slavery, promote free trade, and provide better working conditions for colonial subjects. These
laws differed to some extent, where the British laws focused on individual civil rights, while the
French laws focused on controlling the lives of enslaved people through labour and regulations,
but at the same time both laws offered some freedom and autonomy to former slaves; however,
the British laws were stricter and more traditional in their approach to governing. The impact of
these laws varied greatly, but they were
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significant in shaping the course of colonial history and shaping the relationships between
colonial powers and their subjects. This SBA will first provide an overview of the amelioration
laws in French colonies, and an overview of the laws in British colonies, then explore the
differences between the two, and to what extent these laws differ from each other.
V
The Amelioration laws were a series of laws passed in British territories in the late 18th and
early 19th centuries with the purpose of improving the conditions of enslaved people. The laws
varied from colony to colony but often aimed to regulate the treatment of slaves and provide
some basic rights and protections. Amelioration proposals were introduced in 1823 in the British
and French Caribbean islands. They were introduced by the members of the West India Interest
to improve the lives of the slaves. At this time they believed that if the slaves were content, the
abolitionists would discontinue their struggle for emancipation and slavery would be prolonged.
Some examples of the proposals are:
● “Overseers could not carry whips in the fields
● Slave marriages were encouraged
● Slaves were to have Saturday for the market and Sunday to attend mass.
●
Women should not be flogged
●
Slave families should not be divided
● Slaves could not be sold as a payment of debt” (Rodgers)
“ The impact of amelioration laws on Indigenous populations in British territories is a complex
and often overlooked topic”( Bullock 1). Bullock explained that amelioration laws were
established in the late 1800s and were based on the idea that Indigenous populations would
benefit from the introduction of European-style education and technology. However, the author
notes that the laws had a significant and far-reaching impact on Indigenous people's way of life,
as they often resulted in the displacement of Indigenous people from their traditional lands and
the loss of their cultural practices. Additionally, the laws had a significant economic impact, as
they led to the decline of Indigenous economies and the creation of a new class of Indigenous
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workers who were paid less than their non-Indigenous counterparts. While these laws were
intended to improve the lives of Indigenous people, Bullock concluded that the evidence
suggests that they had a negative effect overall. However, these laws were limited in scope and
did not abolish slavery or provide full equality for enslaved people.
Next, the "Loi d'Amelioration" refers to a series of laws passed in French territories,
particularly in the French Caribbean colonies, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These
laws aimed to improve the social, economic, and political conditions of the colonial populations,
and to provide them with greater rights and freedoms. In 2015, (Chevreul 1) and his colleagues
explored the effects of the Amelioration Laws on the health systems of French Territories. They
found that the Amelioration Laws improved the standard of living and healthcare in the
territories, leading to a reduction in mortality rates and increased access to medical
infrastructure. The study also highlighted the importance of continued oversight of the territories'
health systems, noting that the Amelioration Laws alone are not enough to ensure long-term
improvements. The authors concluded that the Amelioration Laws should be part of a broader
social policy that promotes better health and wellbeing in French Territories. This research
provides a valuable insight into how the Amelioration Laws have impacted the health systems of
French Territories, and suggests that further research is required in order to ensure long-term
improvements.
Some of the key provisions of the Amelioration laws included:
● “The granting of French citizenship to colonial subjects
●
The introduction of minimum wage laws,
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● The creation of trade unions and other worker organizations these measures aimed to
address the poverty and exploitation that were widespread in the colonies and to provide
greater protections for workers.
●
The establishment of a system of compulsory education making it mandatory for
children to attend school. This was seen as an important step in addressing the
widespread illiteracy that existed in the colonies and in providing future generations with
the skills and knowledge they would need to succeed in an increasingly globalized world.
● Tax on manumission abolished, making it easier for slaves to buy their
freedom.”(Rodgers)
In 2021,(M Antonelli et al. 1) found that healthcare professionals in French territories are
often unable to accurately assess and address the needs of their patients due to a lack of
consistent access to adequate medical equipment and resources. This lack of access to necessary
equipment and resources can lead to poor health outcomes and longer-term health problems.
Additionally, the study found that the language barrier between healthcare professionals and their
patients can often make it difficult to communicate effectively and ensure that amelioration laws
are properly implemented. Given the challenges posed by the implementation of amelioration
laws in French territories, it is essential for healthcare professionals to be aware of the unique
needs of their patients in order to ensure that these laws are properly implemented. It was not
until after World War II and the emergence of the independence movements that the French
colonies were finally able to achieve full political autonomy.
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“The British Amelioration Laws, also known as the Navigation Acts, were designed to improve
the overseas trade of the British Empire, while the French Amelioration Laws were designed to
protect the interests of French merchants and traders in the colonies. The British Amelioration
Laws enabled the British to develop their maritime trading networks and expand their colonial
empire, while the French Amelioration Laws enabled the French to gain a foothold in the new
world and to develop their own trading networks. The British amelioration laws focus on the
protection of the interests of the employers, while the French amelioration laws pay more
attention to the protection of the interests of the workers. Therefore, it is clear that the British and
French approaches to amelioration laws differ in terms of their emphasis, degree of restriction,
and overall objectives” (Briggs). The impact of amelioration laws on British and French
territories has been studied extensively by (Porta et al. 1) in their 2008 article in the Journal of
Economic Development. In their study, the authors conducted a comparative analysis of the
impact of amelioration laws on the British and French colonies in the early 19th century. The
authors found that the British colonies experienced greater economic growth than the French
colonies, which they attributed to the earlier implementation of the laws in Britain. In
conclusion, the authors concluded that the Laws of Free Trade had a great impact on the
economic development of British and French colonies, with the British colonies experiencing
greater growth due to their earlier implementation of the laws. Though the British and French
territories had different approaches to the Amelioration Laws, it is clear that both sets of
legislation tried to help improve the lives of people residing in and beyond their borders.
Additionally, both the British and French Empires implemented policies aimed at improving the
welfare of their colonial subjects.
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However the British and French amelioration laws did have their similarities but they also
differed to some extent. “the British Empire was more decentralized and relied more on local
governance structures and the rule of law, whereas the French Empire was more centralized and
relied more on direct control by the colonial administration. As a result, British colonial policies
tended to be more pragmatic and focused on economic development and the promotion of trade,
while French colonial policies tended to be more ideological and focused on assimilation of the
colonized peoples to French culture and values” (Ferguson 1). “One specific area where British
and French colonial policies differed was in the treatment of indigenous peoples. British policies
towards indigenous peoples were often paternalistic, seeking to "protect" them while also
promoting assimilation to British values. In contrast, French policies often sought to erase
indigenous culture and language in favor of French culture, and were characterized by a more
aggressive approach to assimilation” (Ferguson 1). The author concluded that the one major
difference between British and French colonial policies was their approach to governance. The
British Empire tended to be more decentralized and relied on local governance structures, while
the French Empire was more centralized and relied on direct control by the colonial
administration. This led to differences in the ways that colonial policies were implemented, with
British policies often being more pragmatic and focused on economic development, while
French policies were more ideological and focused on assimilation of the colonized peoples to
French culture and values.
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To conclude, In the 18th and 19th centuries, both French and British territories implemented
amelioration laws aimed at improving the lives of enslaved Africans. However these laws did
differ to some extent due to the two colonial powers.
It could be said that in French territories, the amelioration laws were more extensive and
enforced more rigorously than in British colonies. The Code Noir, a set of laws governing
slavery in France and its colonies, mandated certain rights and protections for enslaved people,
including the right to marry, the right to own property, and the right to religious instruction.
These laws were more strictly enforced in French colonies than in British colonies.
In contrast, the amelioration laws in British colonies were more limited and often poorly
enforced. The British government did not provide specific legal protections for enslaved people
until the passage of the Slavery Abolition Act in 1833. Before that, some colonial governors
implemented policies aimed at improving the lives of enslaved people, such as allowing them to
attend church or prohibiting the worst forms of punishment, but these policies varied widely and
were often ignored.
Overall, the French Laws and British Laws were significant pieces of legislation in the history
of slavery and represent a step towards the eventual abolition of slavery throughout the world.
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Geggus, David, "The Amelioration Laws of the French Caribbean, 1784-1936", The Journal of
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1763-1815",The Journal of Caribbean History, Vol. 18, No. 1 (1983).
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Briggs, Asa,"The age of improvement, 1783-1867." (2014).
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Antonelli,French,et al"Surviving sepsis campaign, International guidelines for management of
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(University of California Press, 2007).
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