Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
REBELLION & LIBERATION
In the early 1800s, sugar production in Europe and American tariffs on foreign sugar cut into
the islands' profits. The deteriorating economy put everyone in a foul mood. On Tortola,
slaves plotted a rebellion in 1831; white citizens barely quelled the revolt before it got star-
ted. Fearful and economically discouraged, half the white population abandoned the British
Virgins for good.
During and after slavery, plantation workers had a tradition of choosing a 'queen' for each plantation. This
tradition came from West Africa and was an extension of the matriarchal society existing in the workers'
former homelands.
In the Danish Virgins, the government began to create more options for slaves to gain their
freedom but waffled over universal emancipation even as the English Parliament decreed the
end of slavery in all British colonies (including the BVI) in 1834. Finally, during the sum-
mer of 1848, blacks on St Croix claimed by force their freedom and right to be treated as
equal. They marched on the town of Frederiksted, threatening to burn it to the ground, until
Danish Governor Peter von Scholten felt the heat and granted colony-wide emancipation.
For freeing the slaves, he was recalled to Denmark and tried for treason
But the black population remained in economic bondage. Life in the islands was dismal.
Average wages for field workers were less than $0.15 a day. A series of labor revolts left the
plantation infrastructure in ruins.
