"For man’s freedom is something
Men will themselves, in the past, now and
Forever."
Photo:a slave family in exultation on August 1834"
Emancipation Act
Commonly called the Emancipation Act, the act passed in 1833 is called
the Abolition of Slavery Act. It was very strict in its provisions:
•
On Aug. 1, 1834, all slaves 6 years old and younger were to be freed,
as would be any new children born in British territories.
• On Aug. 1, 1834, all older slaves would begin a period of apprenticeship that would last for four or six years.
• Predials," field-laborers, would remain apprenticed until Aug. 1, 1840.
• Non-predials would remain apprenticed until Aug. 1, 1838.
• After these dates, the slaves would be completely free.
• During the period of apprenticeship, the slaves would work for their
masters for three-fourths of each week, which amounted to 40.5 hours of
work.
• During the remaining 13.5 hours of the week, they were free to work for wages or work on the provision grounds.
• With wages earned, a slave could buy his or her own freedom, with or without his master's consent.
• Special Magistrates, later called Stipendiary Magistrates, would be appointed to oversee this apprenticeship process.
• Parliament would divide out a sum of £20,000,000 among the slave owners as compensation for the loss of their property.
After the emancipation, things remained relatively peaceful on the
island. However, Jamaica faced new hardships with the end of its free
labor. The apprenticeship period would be a true challenge on the
island.
"
Until justice is blind to color, until education is unaware of race,
until opportunity is unconcerned with the color of men's skins,
Emancipation will be a proclamation but not a fact."
Lyndon B. Johnson
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