Rum · History · Short entry
Slavery Abolition Act (1833)
Britain's act abolishing slavery in its colonies, in force from 1 August 1834. Formerly enslaved people over six were bound as 'apprentices' until 1838, while £20 million was paid to slave owners.
August 1833 (in force 1 August 1834; apprenticeship ended 1838)
Slavery abolished throughout the British colonies, with a transitional 'apprenticeship' and compensation for owners.
Why it mattered
Parliament ended colonial slavery but, as the act provided, compensated owners and delayed full freedom through apprenticeship.
Freedom delayed, owners paid
Parliament passed the act in August 1833. When it took effect on 1 August 1834, people over six who had been enslaved became "apprentice labourers", still bound to work for their former owners; apprenticeship ended in 1838. Owners claimed compensation estate by estate: at Mount Gay in Barbados the trustee received £2,860 9s 7d. The total of £20 million, raised by loans, was about 40 % of government spending in 1833. The freed people received no compensation.
How it connects
Region
- related Barbados
- related Jamaica
- related Guyana (Demerara)
Story
- story A history of rum
Continue exploring
- CountryUnited Kingdom97 entries in the atlas so far
- StoryA history of rumBarbados
- RegionBarbadosBarbados
- RegionGuyana (Demerara)Demerara, near Georgetown, Guyana
- RegionJamaicaJamaica
- MethodColumn still (Coffey still)Distillation
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- IngredientSugarcaneSaccharum officinarum (and hybrids with S. spontaneum and other wild Saccharum)
- RegionMartiniqueMartinique, MQ
- StyleCachaçaProtected name