Figure 1.-- This is a depiction of the signing of the 1773 treaty negotiations between the British and the Black Caribs on St. Vincent. Such an vent was so rare that we see this image beingv used to illutrate slave insurections and resistance on many other Caribbean islands. It was pained by Italian artist Agostino Brunias (c1730-1796). He spent most of his active artistic life in the West Indies and is the primary source for paintings of 18th cenbtury slave life. The man signing the treaty is not a Brutish arm oiffucer, but Sir William Young, Brunias' patron.

St. Vincent was claimed by both the British and French. The British claim was settled by the Treaty of Paris which ended the Seven Years War (1763). St. Vincent as well as Grenada and the Grenidines between them along with Dominica abd Tobago, substantially increasing Britain's preesence in the Caribben and potential for sugar production. Britain took administrative steps, but did not fully control the island until after the American Revolution (1776-1783). After the Seven Years War, Britain created an imperial possession known as the the Windward Islands. This included of Grenada, Saint Vincent, Dominica, Tobago, and the Grenadines. A representative assembly royal givernor was created in in Grenada. Voting for respresentives was restructed to the white poropertied class. This efoirt at union quickly collapsed and each of the islands were authorized to establish separate representative assemblies. St. Vincent was, however, different becuse the British did not have full control. The Caribs continued to hold out. Negotiations between the British and Caribs resulted in a division of the Islands (1773). This did not prevent conflicts. The Caribs revolted and were defeated by the British (1772-73). (Disrtractions in the Cariibean were a major problem the British faced in comcentrating their forces to fight the American Revolutionary War.) There was still Crib resistabce and a second war ensued (1796-96). The British as a result deported most of the surviving Caribs to the Bay Islands in the Gulf of Honduras. The British introduced the sugar industry. Sugar cane plabtations expanded and captive Africans were imported to work as slaves on the sugar plantations under brutal conditions. Portuguese and East Indian laborers were also brought to the Islands. The island thus began the sad pattern of other Caribbean islands, although over a much shorter time frame than many other Caribbean islands. This meant at the time of emancipatuion, many freed slaves actually had menories of Africa, something that was unusual in the United States. Britain using the powerful Royal Navy began to supress the slave trade (1807) and emancipated the slaves (1835). The Islands were part of the West Indies Federation (1958-62). Britain granted home rule as part of the West Indies Associated States (1969). Britain granted full indepensence (1979). The country faced some terrible natural disasters. Mount Soufrière eerupted (April 1979) and the norther part of the Island had to be evacuated. The result was a total disruption of the economy. Prime Minister Milton Cato had to deal with a rebellion (December 8, 1979). This was followed by Hurricane Allen (1980) which futher damaged the fragil economy--destroying the important banana harvest.

Colonial Rivalry (18th Century)

The Dutch, English, and French vied for control of St. Vincent. The island was claimed by both the British and French, both of which had powerful fleets to enforce those claims. The French had the dominnt poition until the Seven Years A=War (1656-1763). The British claim was settled by the Treaty of Paris which ended the Seven Years War (1763). St. Vincent as well as Grenada and the Grenidines between them along with Dominica abd Tobago, substantially increasing Britain's presence in the Caribben and potential for sugar production. Britain took administrative steps, but did not fully control the island until after the American Revolution (1776-1783). After the Seven Years War, Britain created an imperial possession known as the the Windward Islands. This included of Grenada, Saint Vincent, Dominica, Tobago, and the Grenadines. A representative assembly royal givernor was created in in Grenada. Voting for respresentives was restructed to the white poropertied class. This efoirt at union quickly collapsed and each of the islands were authorized to establish separate representative assemblies.

Carib Wars (1772-96)

St. Vincent was different than the other Windward Islabnds because the British did not have full control. The Caribs continued to hold out. Negotiations between the British and Caribs resulted in a division of the Islands (1773). This did not prevent conflicts. The Caribs revolted and were defeated by the British (1772-73). (Disrtractions in the Cariibean were a major problem the British faced in comcentrating their forces to fight the American Revolutionary War.) There was still Carib resistabce. The tebuous peace kasted fir two decaded, but was finaslly shatteed by the Second Carib War, which lasted from (1795-77). At the time the French Revolution was in full swing and the slave revellion on Hsiti had begin. The Black Caribs were headed by Garifuna Paramount Chief Joseph Chatoyer and received French support. The major figure here was the radical Victor Hugues on Martinique. The Carub uprising was eventually supressed, but it took 2 years. eneral Sir Ralph Abercromby led the British forces. A peace treaty ending the conflict resulted in the exile of nearly 5,000 Black Caribs deemed to be treasonis to the Bay Islands in the Huilf of Honduras. Most gradually migrated Belize and other coastal countries in Central America. The Caribs who remained escaped from into the interior od the island where tyhey were largely unsupervised. Finally, the colonial legislature pardoned them for rebelling (1805).

Full Control: Sugar and Slavery (1797-1835)

St. Vincent was never a major sugar producer or one of the larger slave islands. But the 100 or so planttions on the island helped to make firyunes for the families involved. With the final defeat of the Caribs, the Brutish were in full control (1797). The Grenadines Islands between St. Vincent and Grenada were partitioned between the two colonies (1791). The population on the Grrnidines and it was though that colonial authoritie could best adminbister the islands closer to them. The Frencjh and British had begun introduced the sugar industry earlier. But with the Blkck Caribs a firce, ghere were limitations. Slaves could run way to Carin controlled areas. Bow there were mo limits. Sugar cane plantations expanded and captive Africans were imported to work as slaves on the sugar plantations under brutal conditions. The island thus began the sad pattern of other Caribbean islands, although over a much shorter time frame than many other Caribbean islands. This meant at the time of emancipatuion, many freed slaves actually had menories of Africa, something that was unusual in the United States. A plantation economy developed, producing sugar wehich was the most valuable commodity. Akso produced was cotton, coffee, and cocoa, all with the labor of enslaved Africans. The construction of Fort Charlotte was completed (1806). The La Soufrière volcano erupted, resulting in enormous devetation (1812). Even before Britain had full control of St. Vincent and Anolitionist Movement was atacking the legal foundation of slvery on ethical grounds. Britain using the powerful Royal Navy began to supress the slave trade (1807). St. Vincent was struck by the great Caribbeanb Hurricane (1831). Reports indicated that 92 of the 96 sugar plabtations were dmaged. [Smith] Barbdos was also damaged, but recovered more slowly. Britain emancipated slaves throughout the Empire 4 years later (1835).

Post Slavery Era (1835-1979)

After emancipation, the freed slaves genberally refused to work on the sugar plantations. This crerated a labor shortage. I basically wrecked the plantation conomy. Somr planters hld on and lobbied for imported labor. Portuguese and East Asian (actually South Asian) laborers were also brought to the Islands to work as contract (indentured) laborors. WEithout slaves, however, the plantations were never again as profitablr as they had been. St Vincent became a crown colony (1877). This involved a royal governor and a nominated council governing the islands on behalf of the British crown. Sugar prices fell (late-19th century). This resulted in a depression that persisted thriughout the rest of the century. The hurricane of 1898 and the eruption of Soufrière in 1902 severly famnage St. Vuncent ubfastrycture abd agriculure. The volabo hindering economic recovery frim the hurricame They destroyed what was left of the sugar industry. Arrowroot and Sea Island cotton becme the main export cropsuntil replced by bananas (1950s.) After the turn of the century, movement toward replacing the crown colony system with some firm of of representative goverment gained strebngth. The Brutish estabkished a legislative council (1925). The franchise was, howver, limited and few of the descendants of of the foirmer slaves were allowed to vote--meaning the majority of the popultion. Yhere were efforts to expnd the franchise and other constitutional reforms. There was a federation of the islands. Turmoil occurred as a result of the Great Depression (mid-1930s). Depression in the major indistrial countries, loweed demand for imports, hius affecting smaller economies likr=e St. Vincent. Finally after Worid War II, universal adult suffrage was enated (1951). St. Vincent also joined the West Indies Federation (1958). But the Federation did not last long, it collapsed (1962). A new constitution was adopted (1960). Saint Vincent became a state in association with the United Kingdom, meaning home rule as part of the West Indies Associated States( 1969). St. Vincent joined the Caribbean Free Trade Area (1968) and Caribbean Community and Common Market -- CARIOIM (1973), and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (1981).

Sources

Smith, S.D. "Storm Hazard and Slavery: The Impact of the 1831 Great Caribbean Hurricane on St Vincent," Environment and History Vol. 18, No. 1 (February 2012), pp. 97-123.

Created: 4:13 PM 3/20/20222
Last updated: 4:13 PM 3/20/2022