Jamaica and Africa

Between the conquest by the English in 1655 and the end of the slave trade in 1809 Jamaica had been transformed from a primarily substance agrarian economy into one of the world's largest plantation commercial and Jamaica had become the largest single importer of Africans slave labourers in all British America.




Africa After the arrival of the Europeans there was a sharp decline in the local population of most of the islands in the Caribbean Sea. This created a problem for the Europeans as they needed labour to exploit the natural resources of these islands. Eventually the Europeans came up with a solution: the importation of slaves from Africa. By 1540, an estimated 10,000 slaves a year were being brought from Africa to replace the diminishing local populations.

British merchants became involved in the trade and eventually dominated the market. They built coastal forts in Africa where they kept the captured Africans until the arrival of the slave-ships. The merchants obtained the slaves from African chiefs by giving them goods from Europe. At first, these slaves were often the captured soldiers from tribal wars. However, the demand for slaves become so great that raiding parties were organised to obtain young Africans.

Above:Map of Jamaica

The Jamaica Flag