In what ways did beet sugar production affect the British Caribbean sugar industry?
Beet sugar had a lower cost of production, was also sold at cheaper rates and carried a lower freight (transportation weight) than that of sugar cane. Lower prices made beet sugar more popular among British consumers with the addition of the reputation of being a superior quality to the West Indian sugar cane.
How were the slaves treated on the sugar plantation?
Men and women of the First Gang had to constantly bend over and hack through the thick sugar cane about six inches from the ground. They then used the bills to cut the top and the leaves off the cane. Second Gang slaves would tie the canes into bundles and load them onto wagons.
Why was there a crisis in the sugar industry in the British Caribbean?
The sugar revolutions were both cause and consequence of the demographic revolution. Sugar production required a greater labor supply than was available through the importation of European servants and irregularly supplied African slaves.
In what ways did Sugar impact the Caribbean?
During the colonial period, the arrival of sugar culture deeply impacted the society and economy in the Caribbean. It not only dramatically increased the ratio of slaves to free men, but it increased the average size of slave plantations.
How did the slaves make sugar?
When the cane was ripe, the enslaved workers cut the sugar cane by hand with broad curved machetes and loaded the stems onto carts. Mills were slow and inefficient so during the harvesting season the slaves worked in the mill and boiling house 24 hours a day to process the crop.
How did Sugar impact the new world?
Sugar drove the forced migration and even enslavement of many Africans which made an impact across the entire world. With the rise of the sugar demand to slavery, this good led to the trading of slaves which had its own trade and economical impact in and of itself.
Why was sugar so important in the new world?
White Gold, as British colonists called it, was the engine of the slave trade that brought millions of Africans to the Americas beginning in the early 16th-century. Profit from the sugar trade was so significant that it may have even helped America achieve independence from Great Britain.
Why was sugar grown in the New World but not in Europe?
Sugar cane—the sole source of the sweetener—only really flourished in hot, humid regions where temperatures remained above 80 degrees Fahrenheit and where rain fell steadily or farmers had ample irrigation. This ruled out most of Europe.
Why were sugar plantations so dangerous?
The harvested cane was taken to the sugar mill where it was crushed and boiled to extract a brown, sticky juice. Operating the machinery was very dangerous – slaves could be maimed or even killed. The sugar boiling houses were unbearably hot and difficult to work in during the summer.
What was life like on a sugar plantation?
On the plantation slaves continued their harsh existence, as growing sugar was gruelling work. Gangs of slaves, consisting of men, women, children and the elderly worked from dawn until dusk under the orders of a white overseer.
What did slaves do in their free time?
When they could, slaves spent their limited free time visiting friends or family nearby, telling stories, and making music. Some of these activities combined African traditions with traditions of the Virginia colonists.
What jobs do slaves do?
The vast majority of enslaved Africans employed in plantation agriculture were field hands. Even on plantations, however, they worked in other capacities. Some were domestics and worked as butlers, waiters, maids, seamstresses, and launderers. Others were assigned as carriage drivers, hostlers, and stable boys.