Resistance and Revolt
Theme: Resistance and Revolt
Topic: The Sugar Revolution
Were the changes that were brought to the West Indies as a result of the sugar revolution beneficial or detrimental to the development of the West Indies?
The period 1650 to 1823 was referred to as the sugar era, during that time sugar cane was the most important and profitable crop that was grown in the West Indies. Most planters turned to this crop as they found out that the changes of the sugar revolution were very beneficial to them and to the West Indies. Most of these beneficial changes are as follows:
1. The Change in land tenure:
Tobacco was grown on small plots of land between 2-12 hectares. One person with a few hired had could manage the operations of such farm. On the other hand sugar could only be grown economically on large estates. As such the demand for land became very high. The rich estate owners would often buy or capture the land of small farmers which led to an increase in the number of large lands owned by planters and the decline in the number of small farmers.
2. Increase in the price of land:
The high demand for land led to an increase in the price of land. For example of parcel of land about 10 acres had been sold for £25 in 1630 however, by 1648 land was sold in Barbados for over £30 an acre when the sugar revolution was almost complete.
3. Demographic Changes/Population:
A. Increase in the population as more persons were brought in as labourers on the large sugar estate.
B. The introduction of a new race; that is, people of African descent were brought in to work on the estate. These African inter-mixed with the Europeans to produce another group that was known as the mulattoes.
Topic: The Sugar Revolution
Were the changes that were brought to the West Indies as a result of the sugar revolution beneficial or detrimental to the development of the West Indies?
The period 1650 to 1823 was referred to as the sugar era, during that time sugar cane was the most important and profitable crop that was grown in the West Indies. Most planters turned to this crop as they found out that the changes of the sugar revolution were very beneficial to them and to the West Indies. Most of these beneficial changes are as follows:
1. The Change in land tenure:
Tobacco was grown on small plots of land between 2-12 hectares. One person with a few hired had could manage the operations of such farm. On the other hand sugar could only be grown economically on large estates. As such the demand for land became very high. The rich estate owners would often buy or capture the land of small farmers which led to an increase in the number of large lands owned by planters and the decline in the number of small farmers.
2. Increase in the price of land:
The high demand for land led to an increase in the price of land. For example of parcel of land about 10 acres had been sold for £25 in 1630 however, by 1648 land was sold in Barbados for over £30 an acre when the sugar revolution was almost complete.
3. Demographic Changes/Population:
A. Increase in the population as more persons were brought in as labourers on the large sugar estate.
B. The introduction of a new race; that is, people of African descent were brought in to work on the estate. These African inter-mixed with the Europeans to produce another group that was known as the mulattoes.