Consolidated Slave Law

The Consolidated Slave Law was a law which was enacted by the Barbados legislature in 1826. Following Bussa's Rebellion, London officials were concerned about further risk of revolts and instituted a policy of amelioration. This was resisted by white Barbadian planters. In consequence, the Consolidated Slave Act was a compromise: it simultaneously granted concessions to the slaves whilst also providing reassurances to the slave owners.[1][2]

Three concessions to the slaves were:

  • The right to own property
  • The right to give evidence in courts in all cases
  • A reduction in manumission fees

Three concessions granted to the slave owners were:

  • That a white person could kill a slave during a revolt with impunity
  • The capital punishment of any slave who threatened the life of a white person
  • That all free black people needed a correct evidence of the such rights or they will be presumed to be enslaved

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Beckles, Hilary McD (2006). A history of Barbados : from Amerindian settlement to Caribbean single market (2nd ed.). Cambridge [England]: Cambridge University Press. pp. 118–119. ISBN 978-0-521-67849-0.
  2. ^ "Bajan Factoids". Virtual Barbados. Retrieved 28 May 2015.