Migration, freedom and enslavement in the revolutionary Atlantic : the Bahamas, 1783-c.1800
This thesis examines the impact of revolution upon slavery in the Atlantic world, focusing upon the period of profound and unprecedented change and conflict in the Bahamas during the final decades of the eighteenth century. It argues that the Bahamian experience can only be satisfactorily understood with reference to the revolutionary upheavals that were transforming the larger Atlantic world in those years. From 1783, the arrival of black and white migrants displaced by the American Revolution resulted in quantitative and qualitative social, economic and political transformation in the Bahamas. The thesis assesses the nature and significance of the sudden demographic shift to a non-white majority in the archipelago, the development of many hitherto unsettled islands, and efforts to construct a cotton-based plantation economy. It also traces the trajectory and dynamics of the complex struggles that ensued from these changes. During the 1780s, Ă©migrĂ© Loyalist slaveholders from the American South, intent on establishing a Bahamian plantocracy, confronted not only non-white Bahamians exploring enlarged possibilities for greater control over their own lives, but also an existing white population determined to
Shirley, P. D.
Migration, freedom and enslavement in the revolutionary Atlantic : the Bahamas, 1783-c.1800. This thesis examines the impact of revolution upon slavery in the Atlantic world, focusing upon the period of profound and unprecedented change and conflict in the Bahamas during the final decades of the eighteenth century. It argues that the Bahamian experience can only be satisfactorily understood with reference to the revolutionary upheavals that were transforming the larger Atlantic world in those years. From 1783, the arrival of black and white migrants displaced by the American Revolution resulted in quantitative and qualitative social, economic and political transformation in the Bahamas. The thesis assesses the nature and significance of the sudden demographic shift to a non-white majority in the archipelago, the development of many hitherto unsettled islands, and efforts to construct a cotton-based plantation economy. It also traces the trajectory and dynamics of the complex struggles that ensued from these changes. During the 1780s, Ă©migrĂ© Loyalist slaveholders from the American South, intent on establishing a Bahamian plantocracy, confronted not only non-white Bahamians exploring enlarged possibilities for greater control over their own lives, but also an existing white population determined to
migration freedom enslavement revolutionary atlantic examines_impact revolution upon slavery atlantic_world focus_upon period profound unprecedented change conflict final argues experience satisfactorily understood reference revolutionary upheaval transform large atlantic_world year arrival black white migrant displace american_revolution result quantitative_qualitative social_economic political_transformation ass nature_significance sudden demographic shift non_white majority archipelago development many hitherto unsettled island effort construct cotton based plantation economy also trace trajectory dynamic complex struggle ensue change loyalist american south intent establish confront non_white explore possibility great control live also exist white population determine