The document provides information about the impact of the slave trade on the Caribbean, including: 1) Over 1.6 million slaves were taken to the Caribbean by Britain to work on sugar cane plantations, which devastated the native Arawak population and destroyed much of the natural landscape. 2) Slaves endured extremely poor treatment and dangerous working conditions, with 25% dying within three years of arrival. This led to increased revolts. 3) The slave trade transformed the population and culture of the Caribbean but also caused lack of workers after abolition and demands for compensation from European nations due to the lasting impacts.

1. Impact of the slave trade on
the Caribbean

2. Today’s lesson
We are developing our knowledge of the impact of the slave
trade on the Caribbean
Today will be able to:
1) Describe the impact of the slave trade on the Caribbean.
Today’s lesson will involve:
1) Note taking
2) National 5 style question

3. Britain & the Caribbean
In the 1700’s Britain has a large empire that
stretched around 1/3 of the globe.
A large number of these colonies were in
the Caribbean where a large amount of the
slave trade took place.
Some of the islands Britain controlled
include: Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad.
1.6 Million slaves were taken to work in
the Caribbean. The Caribbean was
important because you could grow sugar
cane on the islands.

4. Britons in the Caribbean
Many Britons went to the Caribbean
due to the free travel associated
with the empire.
Some prisoners were even sent to
the Caribbean as punishment.
Many Brits actually ran the islands
on behalf of the Government as
Governors. Many also owned
plantations and owned slaves.

5. Discuss – What problems do you
think Slavery caused for the
Caribbean?

6. Task 1
Take a new single mind-map page in your jotter with the following in
the middle.
Impact of the Slave
Trade on the
Caribbean

7. Impact on the Arawak natives.
The Arawak natives were the
native people of the Caribbean.
They were impacted by the
slave trade in two key ways:
1) The Arawak became slaves
themselves. Before the
Triangular trade, the
Arawak were the original
slaves on many plantations.
2) Europeans brought over
disease such as small-pox
that wiped out large
amounts of Arawak natives.

8. Loss of native land
Land which had been used by the Arawak tribes for generations was
taken over by the Europeans so they could set up their own
plantations. Much of the islands natural landscape was destroyed as a
result.
Poor slave treatment
The hot weather of the Caribbean contributed to many slaves dying of
exhaustion due to the long hours they worked. It is estimated that 25%
of all slaves died on the first three years of arrival.
The poor slave treatment also lead to increased revolts and danger
across the islands.
Increased population
The arrival of slaves led to a population boom in the Caribbean this put
huge pressure on already struggling food and water supplies.

9. Lack of workers
After slavery was abolished in the 1800s there was a significant lack of
workers to do the jobs brought by the British in the Caribbean. This led
to Asian immigrants moving to the islands.
Changing culture
Africans brought their own traditions and music to the Caribbean when
they arrived.
The Voodoo religion in the Caribbean is a mixture of African culture and
Catholicism which was brought in by the French on the island of Haiti.

10. Task 2
Read the following information and discuss/write a short answer to the
following question:
Many Caribbean countries such as Jamaica are demanding
compensation from European countries due to their role in the slave
trade. Many also believe countries such as Britain should apologise for
its role in the trade.
Do you agree with the Caribbean countries? Explain your answer.

11. Exam questions
1) Source E is from a book written by a modern historian published in
1987.
Evaluate the usefulness of Source E as evidence of the impact of the
slave trade on the Caribbean islands (5 Marks)
2) Describe the impact of the slave trade on the Caribbean (4 Marks)
The island of Barbados was transformed by the slave trade. By the 18th century, small farms were
replaced by large plantations which grew sugar more profitably. The island had once been a beautiful
wilderness. However accounts tell us of how the island was slowly but surely cleared of its native
people and vegetation. These were replaced by plantations. These became the work place, and final
resting place, or armies of African slaves.

12. Types of slaves in the
Caribbean

13. Today’s lesson
We are developing our knowledge of the different groups
that were used as slaves in the Caribbean.
Today will be able to:
1) Describe the different types of slaves and workers found in the
Caribbean
Today’s lesson will involve:
1) Guided reading
2) National 5 level question

14. Other groups in the Caribbean
As we know, millions of Africans were kidnapped and sent to the
Americas where they were enslaved.
However there were also other groups that were used as slaves in the
Caribbean.
It must be noted that although some were not slaves, they lived in
terrible conditions that was akin to Slavery.

15. Native Americans
One group of people that were used as slaves were the natives of the Caribbean and the Americas. This included tribes such as Arawak, Ciboneu and the
Carib.
When the Spanish first arrived in the Caribbean, they saw the chance to use the islands to grow produce such as sugar. These Europeans forced many of
these native tribes into slavery.
They often lived in horrible conditions with extreme punishments. Many died due to the illnesses brought over by the Europeans with them, like measles.
They also suffered because European settlers also took their land to use for plantations and the creation of towns.
Due to the large amount of Native Americans who died due to the work and disease, so there were not enough workers to be used. Hence why many
looked to Africa for future slaves.
European prisoners
European countries used transportation as a punishment for prisoners. Guilty people were sent abroad to carry out their sentences – often to a far away
destination from which they could not return.
Prisoners faced the same treatment as slaves; they were forced into difficult conditions – facing punishments if they did not work well. They also had poor
living conditions and poor diets.
However unlike slaves, prisoners were being punished for committing a crime and could be released at the end of their sentence – if they worked well.
Some then stayed to work on the plantations as paid employees, where they often lived a better life than at home.
Asian workers
At the end of the slave trade there were not enough workers in the Caribbean as many slaves were freed. Large amount of Asian workers arrived to fill the
shortages. Many of the Asian workers that came to the Caribbean worked in the plantations.
These workers signed up for 2-5 years of work and there often paid during this time. At the end of their contract they stayed in the Caribbean, working in
various jobs such as traders and bakers.
However some Asian workers felt they were lied to about the conditions, jobs and life they would have in the Caribbean – as many were sold this idea that
life in the Caribbean would be transformation. These workers often resisted their employers by running away, damaging property or even attacking them.
They also wrote petitions complaining.

16. Questions – Answer in full sentences:
1) What did the Spanish do when the first arrived in the Caribbean?
2) What was life like as a Native American living as a slave?
3) What was the key problem of using Native Americans as slaves?
4) Why did European prisoners end up in the Caribbean?
5) What happened to prisoners at the end of their sentence? Why is this different
from enslaved Africans?
6) Why did Asian workers go to the Caribbean?
7) How did Asian workers react to life in the Caribbean?
EXAM QUESTIONS
Explain how different groups were treated in the Caribbean – 5 Marks.
Explain the impact of the slave trade in the Caribbean – 6 Marks.