The Christmas Rebellion

To resist by definition is to withstand, oppose, stand firm against, to oppose actively. Rebellion denotes a more militant approach. An act of rebellion resulted in fierce retaliation and severe punishment for offenders, often done in public. Despite the negative repercussions, resistance was an avenue often chosen by the enslaved population; it was considered a necessary evil. Passive acts of resistance culminated in acts of open rebellion when slaves felt their efforts were in vain and their rights were being ignored. For an enslaved people resistance not only provided an outlet for their frustrations it also created an opportunity to assert themselves in order to gain recognition and respect in defiance of colonial oppression. Open rebellion was a militant challenge to colonialism which highlighted the struggle of slaves in Jamaica and created an opportunity for political and social change. The Christmas Rebellion led by Samuel Sharpe in 1831 was the catalyst that finally brought an end to slavery in the island. (thesis)

The first act of rebellion by slaves was on the ships when individual slaves jumped to their watery grave, preferring that certain death to the brutal inhumane condition of captivity. Acts of resistance continued on the plantations and took many forms ranging from passive resistance to active rebellion. Jamaica has a long history of resistance more so than the other islands. Historians differ on the reasons for this. One argument is that the ratio of slaves to whites, which in the nineteenth century was about thirteen to one, compared to other islands in the British colony was a major factor. Absentee landlords were also identified as a factor “The marked degree of absentee ownership among whites in the island contrasts sharply with patterns of white resident ownership in Barbados and the United States” (Heuman 34). Still others say it was because the African slaves in Jamaica were originally from warrior tribes in Africa. Although there are differing reasons as to why, there is general consensus that major rebellion were more likely to occur “where forces of control were weakened or distracted and also when slave expectations were frustrated” (Heuman).

The maroons in Jamaica were the first to rebel and succeed in forming their own community after a rebellion in 1673. It involved three hundred slaves who worked on a plantation in the parish of Saint Ann; they murdered their master and fled to the hills where they successfully resisted attacks against them. The mountain regions and inaccessible interior terrain offered runaway slaves the perfect places to form their own settlement communities. This formed the basis of a new community in Jamaica; many slaves ran away and joined this militant group, creating an escaped slave society. According to historian Richard Hart, the slaves “almost destroyed the first parties that pursued them which not only prevented others from going against them but also encouraged other Negroes to rise, commit barbarities and fly to them…” They became such a force to be reckoned with that in 1739, the British were forced to sign a peace treaty with them. This act of diplomacy granted the Maroons autonomy and freedom from taxes with the understanding that they would return runaway slaves and help the government in putting down subsequent slave uprisings.

Slave uprisings were frequent and according to custom, the punishment of offenders was not always swift but it was sure and severe. In an effort to discourage future attempts, the plantation owners would put on a public display where slaves were executed, often by progressive mutilation, slow burning or ‘breaking on the wheel’. The wheel was a form of torture where bones were dislocated and the body pulled apart on a wheel. So it was at great risk that slaves continued to rebel. Samuel Sharpe was the mastermind of the last and most organized plan of resistance in 1831. His religion played an important role in the uprising.

Religious meetings were the only permitted form of organized activities for slaves. The church was therefore an effective meeting place for like minded people. This is where Sam Sharpe outlined his plan to stage a passive resistance. He was not the average slave, as a deacon in the Baptist church, he had some amount of education and commanded the respect of his peers to the extent where he was referred to as Samuel “Daddy” Sharpe. Through the bible and its teaching he learnt that “all men are equal” and “no man can serve two masters”. He also became aware that people in England wanted to end slavery which was in line with his Baptist teaching. So he formulated a plan that called on slaves to do no work on Christmas day and afterwards, knowing that if the cane wasn’t harvested at that time it would be detrimental to the planters. He was hoping to put pressure on the planters so they would be forced to negotiate. The slaves had grievance concerning better treatment and consideration of freedom. Sharpe outlined his plan to select supporters and had them “kiss the bible” to show support (MOE). The word spread throughout the western parishes and inevitably reached the ears of the planters. They reacted by sending troops into St. James and war ships were anchored in the ports. They prepared for battle or perhaps hoped that the slaves would be deterred by this show of power.

On December 28, 1831 the slave rebellion began on Kensington Estate. Fire was set to the great house and a series of fires broke out in other areas. “More than 200 sugar estates in the Northwestern parishes were burnt or pillaged…. More than 60,000 slaves took part through an area of 750 square miles” (Rozinski 186). Sam Sharpe’s plan for an organized sit in escalated into an uprising of major proportions. In the end over five hundred slaves and 14 whites were killed. Some of the slaves died in battle while others were executed after the fact. As with other rebellions, the suppression was savage. “…out of ninety-nine slaves tried in Montego Bay, eighty one were executed” (Heuman). Sam Sharpe was caught and executed in the public square. He is reported to have said “I would rather die upon yonder gallows than live in slavery”(MOE).

The extent of the rebellion had far reaching effects. News of the revolt and it repression provoked outrage in Britain. According to Heuman, it had “widespread reverberations in England.” The slave revolts strongly influenced public opinion in Britain which brought about changes in the political system and the abolition of slavery. A petition signed by more than 1.5 million people was submitted to parliament in 1833. Slavery was officially abolished in August1834. The slaves themselves played a major role in their own emancipation.

Throughout Jamaican history, beginning with the maroons, many lives were lost in the rebellion. Even though retribution for offenders was excessive and made martyrs of many, it was effective in bringing about the desired changes. Strong winds of change were blowing and Samuel Sharpe responded by convincing his followers it was time to stand up for their rights. He believed that people could bond together to change things, they shouldn’t simply accept injustice; emancipation was theirs to be had. The fundamental teachings of the Baptist church helped foster the hunger for freedom and equality, in addition it provided a forum for freedom fighters like Samuel Sharpe to get their message heard. With the abolition of the slave trade in 1807 there were major debates in Britain regarding ending slavery in the colonies, but it was slow in coming due to parliamentary politics. The Christmas rebellion of 1831 and the events that followed in the island hastened the decision of the British Parliament to bring and end to slavery in Jamaica. Samuel Sharpe by his work, strength and courage in carrying out the rebellion aided a struggle which resulted in emancipation from colonial shackles.

WORKS CITED

Hart, Richard. Slaves Who Abolished Slavery: Blacks in rebellion Kingston. Kingston:

UWI Press, 2002.

Heuman, Gad. The Killing Time: The Morant Bay Rebellion in Jamaica. Knoxville: New

York UP, 1994.

Rozinski, Jan. A Brief History of the Caribbean. USA: Penguin, 2000.

“Sam Sharpe.” Ministry of Education: Jamaica National Heroes. 16

Mar.2005 http://www.moec.gov.jm. Path: Heroes: Sharpe.