The beacon to signal the start of the sam sharpe rebellion 1832 was lit at the kensington estate by a slave named john dunbar a medicine man and healer attached to. Main idea an introduction conclusion this uprising in jamaica was the largest in the caribbean in terms of the number of enslaved people involved, illustrating that slavery could not be sustained in jamaica. Because of his intelligence and leadership qualities, sam sharpe became a daddy, or leader of the native baptists in montego bay. Sharpe was tried and hanged for his role as organiser of the rebellion. It resulted in the death of nearly 200 africans and 14 british planters or overseers. In october 1975 sam sharpe was named a national hero on national heroes day, october 16th, jamaicans gather together to salute their heroes. The rebellion was brutally crushed, but over time, the rebellion had a significant impact and two years later in 1833 the slavery abolition act is passed. The main cause of the sam sharpe rebellion was the mistreatment of the slave sam sharpe. Samuel sharpe, a minister of the native baptist church inspired rebellion in the montego bay area of jamaicathe anger of the. What impact did the sam sharpe christmas rebellion have on. Jamaica national heroes a brief biography of jamaicas. Sam sharpe, shoehorned into a black history month may, paradoxically, become smaller as a result. An introduction effects of the rebellion planning this uprising in jamaica was the largest in the caribbean in terms of the number of enslaved people involved, illustrating that slavery could not be sustained in jamaica.
Sam sharpe christmas day rebellion of 1831 youtube. Historians agree that this rebellion was largely responsible for the passing of the act to abolish slavery less than a year later in 1832. However, according to the court documents at the trial of sharpe, he was 27. Vrio analysis for the sam sharpe rebellion case study identified the four main attributes which helps the organization to gain a competitive advantages. Samuel sharpe was the main instigator of the 1831 slave rebellion, which began on the kensington estate in st. So by the time of the sam sharpe rebellion the slaves, being pregnant with ideas for a final push for freedom, had more time among themselves to interface, including planning the 1832 rebellion. Maroons the maroons also played an important role in the history of st. However, the repercussions of the rebellion were more terrible.
Rationale slavery was probably the cruelest crime executed on a black african in the caribbean. Sam sharpe, or daddy sam sharpe, as he was also known, is remembered for his leading role in the christmas revolution of 1831. When sam sharpe was made a national hero in 1975, not many jamaicans knew about him. There was a rumour among slaves in jamaica that stated that. There are several reasons for the 1831 revolt in jamaica. Sam sharpe is best known for his leadership role in the 1831 christmas rebellion on the kensington estate in western jamaica. Sharpe, a creole slave, was born in montego bay, jamaica in 1801. The main rebellion lasted 10 days but it took british troops the whole of january, 1832 to restore order. The socalled baptist war because of the denomination of many involved, or the christmas rebellion of 1831, left over several hundred slaves dead.
Freedom fighter sam sharpe the christmasbaptist rebellion. Sam sharpe spent most of his time travelling to different parishes in jamaica educating the slaves about christianity and freedom. Sam sharpe and the christmas rebellion rough guides. Sep 23, 2008 it sparked the eightday kensington estate rebellion, which began on december 27, 1831, resulting in the deaths of more than 500 slaves and 14 whites many of the slaves were executed following trials. The place in montego bay that he hanged is known as sam sharpe square, and his face is on the countrys currency. The rebellion, and sharpe s subsequent execution, accelerated the abolition of slavery in jamaica. He was born in jamaica in 1801 and brought up in montego bay. Samuel sharpe was tried in april 1832, found guilty of rebellion and insurrection, and hanged on 23 may 1832. So i want to discuss sharpe against the wide lens of christian religion. A narrative of the life and adventures of samuel sharpe, a west indian slave. Its principal leader was samuel sharpe, a literate man and baptist lay preacher.
Sharpe was hanged on may 23, 1832, in the circle which now bears his name sam sharpe square in montego bay. Biography samuel sharpe was born into slavery in the parish of st james, ja maica. In contrast, the british troops, the supporting militias and the maroons killed 307 freedom fighters and another 312 were executed through the slave courts and by court martial. Although there were those who found it to be the norm, there isnt an inch of doubt that slavery was an evil deed. This rebellion helped to bring the end of slavery this is what sam wanted. Fallacies about faith religion in general and christianity in particular has been blamed for many atrocities in the world. He learnt to read and write, and continued to educate himself, reading newspapers and books. In jamaica reports spread among the slaves that their free paper had come from england but their. Another cause was the influence of sam sharpe, a slave in montego bay who was able to urge the slaves to stop working on the plantations by spreading watch words called freedom. Sam sharpe and the baptist war sped up emancipation news.
Excellent, and the sam sharpe teachers college near montego bay was named in his honor. The uprising was led by a black baptist deacon, samuel sharpe and waged largely by his. Sam sharpe was the main instigator of the 1831 slave rebellion which began on the kensington estate in sharpe, an educated town slave, sharpe, samuel ca. Those three were the bussa rebellion in barbados, easter 1816, the demerara revolt in guyana, august 1823, and the sam sharpe. In the sunday gleaner last week, an article, christmas day 1831, asserted that sam sharpe was born in 1780, which meant that when sharpe died he was 51 years old. More than 300 other rebels were executed by hanging or firing squad. Nov 08, 20 sharpe was a deacon at the burchell baptist church in montego bay, whose pastor was rev thomas burchell. It forced upon the british parliament the realization that the abolition of slavery had to be treated as a matter of urgency and that the slaves themselves would not allow the issue to be. On december 27, 1831, armed rebellion and seizing of property spread mostly through the western parishes.
After the strikers demands were ignored, however, the strike turned to open rebellion by tens of thousands of slaves, who looted and burned plantations into january 1832 before being defeated by. In contrast, the british troops, the supporting militias and the maroons killed 307 freedom. That kensington fire which started the sam sharpe rebellion. Though sharpe took on the surname of his master in accordance with tradition, his sideline as deacon of the towns burchell baptist church made him anything but servile. The baptist war, also known as the sam sharpe rebellion, the christmas rebellion, the christmas uprising and the great jamaican slave revolt of 1832, was an elevenday rebellion that started on 25 december 1831 and involved up to 60,000 of the 300,000 slaves in jamaica. The rebellion was largely suppressed within two weeks and there is no record of how sharpe was captured. He was a literate and well respected deacon who was in charge of a missionary chapel in montego bay. Samuel sharpe was captured and condemned to be hung. Sharpe was a slave in montego bay, and he also was a member of the baptist church. Paul bogle, born in the year 1822, was over nine years old when he would have witnessed the sam sharpe rebellion and its aftermath of unspeakable cruelty to the slaves, as well. Ordnance order of samuel sharpe nomination revised 062017 please mail or fax the below form to.
The rebellion was fomented through the agitation and activism of a slave, sam sharpe. Sam sharpe christmas day rebellion of 1831 was successful because of the skillful planning of our hero sam sharpe. Where exactly was sam sharpes place of execution and burial. James, one of the most important sugar growing parishes in jamaica, marked the outbreak of a slave rebellion which swept the western parishes of the island. On the 30th may 1831, the martyrdom of sam sharpe took place on the scaffold in the parade of this town in that portion near to the cage. Sharpe was a slave of an english attorney and namesake who practiced in montego bay sharpe was baptized and subsequently became a lay deacon and leader of the congregation at the. He was the main instigator of the 1831 slave rebellion, which began on the kensington estate in st james, jamaica and which was largely instrumental in bringing about the. This mistake about his age is due to the portrait of sharpe reflecting someone in his early 50s. Sep 09, 2015 sam sharpe christmas day rebellion of 1831 was successful because of the skillful planning of our hero sam sharpe. What are the effects of the 1831 sam sharpe rebellion in.
Christmas, because it happened during the yuletide season. Feb 11, 2007 on august 28, 1833 slavery was abolished and the system of apprenticeship instituted, allowing for the total freedom of slaves in the next 46 years. Arnold bertram remembering sam sharpe and the emancipation. He was the last person to be executed for participating in the revolt. Samuel sharpe criteria selection criteria the purpose of the ordnance order of samuel sharpe is to recognize those individuals who have served the united states army ordnance corps with demonstrated integrity, moral character and professional competence over a sustained period of time. The sam sharpe christmas rebellion of 1831 was a key event in the fight for the abolishment of slavery. The government of jamaica gave sam sharpe the posthumous designation of rt. There was a rumour among slaves in jamaica that stated that british. The sam sharpe rebellion essay custom university papers. Samuel sharpe project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks.
He was also a deacon at the burchell baptist church in montego bay. The emancipation wars overview above all of the acts of resistance towards slavery, non violent and violent, there were three rebellions in the british west indies that stood out. Sharpe a national hero, with the posthumous title of rt. Bleby published an account of his interview with sam sharpe and edward hylton, one of sharpes coconspirators. Samuel sharpe, or sharp 1804 23 may 1832, also known as sam sharpe, was an enslaved jamaican man who was the leader of the widespread 1832 baptist war slave rebellion also known as the christmas rebellion in jamaica. James and which was largely instrumental in bringing about the abolition of slavery. One of the main reasons given for the revolt was that the enslaved was led to believe that emancipation was being withheld. Jamaican slave rebellion of 1832 and the end of slavery. Jamaica gleaner news getting to know sam sharpe tuesday.
Sam sharpe square sharpe is a national hero in jamaica today. Despite its failure, the jamaican uprising played a significant role in the advent of abolition in the british caribbean. Sam sharpe throughout the rebellion only used force against those who attacked him, and as a result only 14 whites were killed and 12 wounded. Myalism was an antiwitchcraft against the evil deeds of. Samuel sharpe better known as sam sharpe is one of jamaicas national hero, born in the parish of st james in 1801 and died may 23, 1832, a well educated man who led the slave rebellion in 1831. If you know the answer to this question, please register to join our limited. Because of his education, he was respected by other slaves, and he became a wellknown preacher and leader. From his masters newspaper he learnt that emancipation was very near and that wage and labour would come to.
Samuel sharpe, was an enslaved person who fought for freedom by organising a general strike in jamaica. Devon dick sam sharpe was special commentary jamaica. The outnumbered british army issued a pardon to all slaves willing to return to their plantations. The author of this theory suggests that firm must be valuable, rare, imperfectly imitable and perfectly non sustainable. Bay, the last of the rebels executed for taking part in the rebellion.
Samuel sam sharpe or daddy sharpe led a rebellion which led to the end of legal slavery in the british colony of jamaica records of who his parents were have been lost. Samuel sharpe 18011832 daddy sam sharpe, as he was affectionately called was to carry on the resistance against slavery effecting at the young age of 31, the most outstanding slave rebellion in jamaicas history. The jamaican revolt of 1831 proved to be an important step to ending slavery in british colonies. Sam sharpe in prison is taken from sir philip sherlocks shout for freedom. Emancipation, because it sped up the emancipation process.
Before his death, sam sharpe was interviewed by henry bleby, an abolitionist and protestant missionary. While missionaries ideals and altruism drove the abolitionists, there were also sound economic reasons for their eventual success. What were the causes of the jamaica revolt in 1831. Sharpe was eventually hung in the montego bay market place on may 23, 1832.
He tried to start it out peacefully, but it quickly turned violent and deadly. Sam sharpe world news punishments for slaves in 1830 1831 sam sharpe rebellion in jamaica, randy mclaren as sam sharpe, sam sharpe showreel 2014, sam sharpe heroes day books. Samuel sharpe became a jamaican national hero as he led the islands slaves in a rebellion against the overseers and sugar plantation owners. Sam sharpe or christmas rebellion 1831 by abigail barrett.
Samuel sharpe jamaican slave revolt leader britannica. Samuel sam sharpe, or sharp, national hero of jamaica 1801 23 may 1832, was the slave leader behind the widespread jamaican baptist war slave rebellion of 1832 also known as the christmas rebellion. Samuel sharpe was a jamaican preacher who led a 10day slave revolt on the island nation that moved the british empire to end slavery in 1833. Sam sharpe was named as the key figure behind the resistance and he was captured and hanged in montego bay on a square now called sam sharpe square. But the militia soon took advantage of the lack of strategy and communication among the rebels and the uprising was put down by the first week in january. The sam sharpe rebellion was considered as one of the largest slave rebellions in the british caribbean and was one of the longest and most influential of the emancipation revolts. In 1831 samuel sharpe led a christmas day general strike for wages and better working conditions. After the sam sharpe rebellion in 1831 planters in jamaica. The sam sharpe rebellion case study solution and analysis of. Nanny and sam sharpe freedom fighters and slave rebellions. The 1831 slave rebellion in jamaica shook the british empire and led to the abolition of slavery there. The jamaica slave rebellion of 1831 on tuesday, the 27th of december, i 83 i, a fire on kensington estate in st. Apr 29, 2018 for over 43 years, starting from 1975 when the rt excellent samuel sharpe was declared national hero, the sam sharpe rebellion 1832 and the morant bay rebellion of 1865 33 years apar t.
Sam sharpe the baptist war, also known as the christmas rebellion, the christmas uprising and the great jamaican slave revolt of 1832, was an 8day rebellion that mobilized as many as 60,000 of jamaicas 300,000 slave population. Samuel sharpe was the main instigator of the 1831 slave rebellion, which began. Sep 23, 2017 the sam sharpe christmas rebellion of 1831 was a key event in the fight for the abolishment of slavery. Thirtythree years later, sharpe, the slavepreacher, who triggered the kensington estate rebellion. Ordnance order of samuel sharpe nomination revised 201. The rebellion was led by sam sharpe, a house slave working for a mobay solicitor. Sharpe, an educated town slave, was a preacher and spokesman. Bussa and christmas rebellions understanding slavery. In 1972, the independent government of jamaica declared him a national hero of jamaica and bestowed upon him the posthumous title of right excellent samuel sharpe he was the slave leader behind the jamaican baptist war slave rebellion also known as the christmas uprising, 18311832. Better known as sam sharpe, samuel sharpe, a creole slave, was born in montego bay in 1801. Also in 1975, sam sharpe teachers college was founded and named in his honor in granville, a suburb of montego bay. But, who was sam sharpe and why did he instigate, but not start, the uprising that is now known as the christmas rebellion, the sam sharpe rebellion, the emancipation rebellion and the baptist war.
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