HUMA 024 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: British West Indies
Document Summary
Once the british government decided to free the enslaved africans, its members wanted to ensure that the colonies business would not be disrupted by this social revolution. So, the main concerns of the emancipation act were to: Ensure that the former slaves had the protection of the law. Ensure that there would be a transition period between slavery and full freedom. To placate (make less hostile) the planters who business would be disrupted by the changes. Slave owners were to be compensated for losing the services of their slaves. Before the full effect of emancipation, there would be a short period for adjustment known as apprenticeship. Apprentices could not be forced to do labour outside of the plantation. Former masters were to supply apprentices with food, clothing, shelter and medicine. In lieu of food, sufficient land was to be provided to allow the apprentice to grow his/her food.
