BUSSA WAS A SLAVE LEADER OF THE BARBADOS REVOLT. HE WAS KILLED WHILE FIGHTING THE REGIMENTS THAT HAD BEEN CALLED OUT TO SUPPRESS THE REVOLT. THE REVOLT HAD BEEN PLANNED BY ENSLAVED ARTISANS AND OTHER TRADESMEN, INCLUDING SOME DOMESTIC SLAVES. HE IS A NATIONAL HERO IN BARBADOS Like thousands of his countrymen, he was born a free man in Africa, but was captured and brought to Barbados in the late 18th Century as a slave. Historians further claim that he was not a young man since the Slave Trade was abolished in 1807, and in general, it took at least ten years for Africans to acquire the language and managerial skills, in addition to their masters' confidence, in order to become a member of the elite slave personnel on estates. Bussa, therefore, apparently enjoyed such confidence and respect. On the plantation Bussa worked as a domestic slave, a head-ranger at Bayleys and did not experience the intense hardships that the field slaves endured. Domestic slaves generally considered themselves above the field slaves and some even exposed plans of slave rebellions to their �masters� in order to gain favour. Bussa however, despite his �privileged� position, helped to plan for months in advance. A SLAVE REVOLT IN 1816 LED BY THE SLAVE BUSSA. IT IS ALSO REFERRED TO AS THE BUSSA REVOLT. SLAVES IN SEVERAL PARISHES OF BARBADOS REVOLTED JUST BEFORE EASTER IN A BID FOR FREEDOM. THEY HAD BEEN MISTAKENLY LED TO BELIEVE THAT THE SLAVE REGISTRATION ACT WAS PROCLAMATION OF FREEDOM. BUSSA WAS KILLED IN ACTION AGAINST THE TROOPS. THE REVOLT WAS HARSHLY SUPPRESSED BY THE MILITIA AND THE MAIN LEADERS HUNG AS AN EXAMPLE TO THE OTHER SLAVES. THE REVOLT WAS CRITICAL AS IT OCCURRED IN A COLONY WHERE THERE WERE FEW REVOLTS(THE LAST REVOLT HAD TAKEN PLACE IN 1649), THUS DISPELLING THE IDEA THAT THE COLONY WAS STABLE . IT WAS ALSO IMPORTANT AS IT AGAIN PROVED CORRECT THE ANTI-SLAVERYY ARGUMENT THAT THE SLAVES WOULD CONTINUE TO TAKE MORE STRINGENT ACTIONS TO FREE THEMSELVES FROM THEIR INHUMANE EXISTENCE UNLESS ACTION WAS TAKEN BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT. CAUSES: i. SLAVES BELIEF THAT EMANCIPATION BEING WITHHELD. ii. ACTIVITIES OF NON-CONFORMIST MISSIONARIES. iii. BARBADIAN PLANTERS REFUSAL TO ACCEPT SLAVE REGISTRATION BILL. CAIN DAVIS, J. SARJEFREE COLOUREDS- WASHINGTON FRANCKLYN(FRANKLINANT. BLACKS AND SLAVES- BUSSA, ROACH, JACKEY, RANGER, MINGO. 14 APRIL- REVOLT STARTED BY BUSSA AND JACKEY. SPREAD TO ST.PHILLIP, ST.JOHN AND ST.GEORGE. SIXTY BUILDINGS DESTROYED. 15 APRIL- EASTER MONDAY. MARTIAL LAW DECLARED AT 1:30AM. REVOLT CRUSHED BY COLONEL EDWARD CODD. BUSSA DIED IN FIGHTING WITH 175 OTHERS. 214 EXECUTED, INCLUDING FRANKLIN. 100 EXILED TO SIERRA LEONE. A FIFTH OF THE SUGAR CROP DESTROYED.