Barbados and West Indian Plantations Flashcards

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Where is Barbados and what region is it part of?

Barbados is a small island in the Caribbean Sea. It is part of the West Indies.

What is meant by a plantation in Barbados and the West Indies?

A plantation was a large farm that grew one main crop, such as sugar. It used many workers, often forced, to make a profit.

Which cash crop became the main crop on Barbados plantations by the late 1600s?

Sugar cane became the main crop. It replaced earlier crops like tobacco and cotton because it brought more profit.

Why did planters in Barbados switch from growing tobacco to growing sugar?

Sugar grew well in the island’s climate. It was in high demand in Europe, so it earned planters much more money than tobacco.

How did the workforce on Barbados plantations change over time?

At first, many workers were white indentured servants from Europe. Over time, planters brought in more enslaved Africans, who became the main workforce.

What was life like for enslaved Africans on Barbados plantations?

They worked very long hours, often from dawn to dark. They faced harsh punishments, poor food and housing, and many died young.

What was the Barbados Slave Code of 1661?

It was a set of laws made by white planters. It said enslaved Africans were property in law and allowed very brutal punishments.

How was a typical sugar plantation in Barbados organised?

A rich planter owned the land. Overseers and drivers forced gangs of enslaved workers to labour in the fields. Other enslaved people worked in the sugar mill and boiling house.

What were the main steps in turning sugar cane into sugar on West Indian plantations?

First, enslaved workers cut the cane. Next, it was crushed in a mill to squeeze out the juice. Then the juice was boiled and left to cool and harden into sugar.

Why were Barbados and other West Indian plantations important to Britain’s Caribbean empire?

Their sugar plantations made huge profits from selling sugar. The plantation system used in Barbados was copied on other islands, so it spread across the West Indies and helped Britain’s Caribbean empire to grow.

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