SAM SHARPE AND EMANCIPATION

“We must be content to die for the benefit of the rest. I, for one, am ready to die, in order that the rest may be free…. I depend for salvation upon the Redeemer, who shed his blood upon Calvary for sinners.”

Samuel Sharpe acknowledged himself as the leader of the Christmas Rebellion which spanned 10 days from December 1831 to January 1832. This riot is believed to have been one of the chief catalysts for the Declaration of Emancipation in 1838 having resulted in the execution of 312 slaves and the death of 16 whitel colonists and 1000 soldiers.

Although Sam Sharpe chose to take responsibility as leader of the rebellion, he was not responsible for the widespread destruction and violence which erupted. Several accounts have been given of Sharpe’s intended plan, however, they all relate a similar story, Sharpe’s sole intention was to organize a sit-down strike by the slaves in order to force plantation owners to pay them for the work they had done. Slaves in the western part of the island would refuse to work after the Christmas holidays unless paid. However, things did not go as planned.

Though Sharpe did not intend for any loss of lives or destruction of property, the militant, expectant and volatile atmosphere that existed in Jamaica at the time was favourable for a more confrontational approach to the situation. The overwhelming support from the majority of the slave population in the western part of the island led to elevated levels of anxiety among them. Additionally, the refusal of the planters to yield to the demands of the slaves and the counter-attack of the General Sir Willoughby Cotton led army also aided in the escalation of the violent nature of the conflict. The events began with the burning of the Kensington Estate Great House on the night of December 27 which was then followed by the burning of other estates, the destroying of crops and the killing of a number of whites.

There were some slaves, as Sharpe, who were not in agreement with the widespread destruction that was taking place. In fact, several of them protected the properties of their masters whilst still participating fully in the strike. This was the case at both the Carlton and Cornwall Estates. The slaves at these estates, and others, were not interested in destroying what their owners had, they just wanted to be free of mandatory work.

The Christmas Rebellion, as it is commonly referred to as, is one of the most documented rebellions during the time of slavery. Its importance is as a result of what the rebellion managed to accomplish all because of the work of a literate, inspirational slave called Samuel Sharpe. For his role in the rebellion, Sharpe was hanged on May 23, 1832 and his owners were paid £16 in compensation for their loss of property.

References

“Case Study 4: Jamaica (1831) - Samuel Sharpe – The Abolition Project”. East of England Broadband Network and                MLA East of Engalnd 2009. 24 Aug. 2009 <http://abolition.e2bn.org/resistance_55.html>

Hart, Richard. Slaves who abolished slavery. Volume 2. Blacks in rebellion. University of the West Indies, Mona:                Kingston, 1985.

Senior, Olive. Encyclopedia of Jamaican Heritage. Twin Guinep Ltd.: St. Andrew, 2003.