Jamaican Maroon Resistance

• The text details resistance to slavery in Jamaica through the stories of the Maroons and rebellions led by Sam Sharpe and Tacky.

The Maroons

• Maroons descended from runaway slaves who formed communities in Jamaica's mountainous regions.
• Maroon settlements were strategically located in mountainous areas providing natural protection, fresh water, fertile soil, and a cooler climate for farming.
• Maroons used guerilla warfare tactics to resist the British, including camouflage, traps, surprise attacks, and sabotage.
• They used look-out points and the abeng, a signaling system using cow horns.
• Maroons constantly harassed the British through warfare.
• Nanny and Cudjoe were notable Maroon leaders.
• Nanny offered strategic advice and spiritual leadership.
• Cudjoe, who led the Trelawny Maroons, signed a peace treaty with the English in 1739.
• Cudjoe's treaty required the Maroons to return new runaway slaves.
• Maroon settlements locations included Trelawny Town, Accompong, and Nanny Town.

Sam Sharpe Rebellion

• The Sam Sharpe Rebellion, or Christmas Rebellion, occurred in St. James, Jamaica, in 1831.
• Samuel Sharpe was an enslaved Baptist deacon who organized a widespread strike demanding wages.
• The rebellion began with the burning of the Kensington Estate Great House, spreading to other parishes.
• The government suppressed the rebellion with better-trained and armed troops.
• The rebellion demonstrated the enslaved people's willingness to fight for freedom, and fueled the abolition movement.
• The rebellion suffered from a lack of leadership, training, organization, and communication among the slaves.

Tacky's Rebellion

• Tacky's Rebellion occurred between 1760 and 1761.
• Tacky aimed to overthrow the whites and establish a black-ruled colony.
• Tacky and his followers took over estates in St. Mary, raided a fort for weapons, and attacked plantations.
• The rebellion spread to other parishes.
• The rebellion was defeated, Tacky was killed, and many rebels were executed or further enslaved.
• The rebels initially overpowered British forces to seize arms and ammunition.
• The rebellion's successes were due to the speed of the initial assault, the number of slaves who joined, the commitment of the fighters, and the military skills of some rebels.

General Themes

• Forms of Enslaved People's Resistance Include guerilla warfare and organized rebellions.
• Strong leaders like Nanny, Cudjoe, Sam Sharpe, and Tacky were crucial in organizing and directing resistance efforts.
• Rebellions often faced suppression, but played a significant role in challenging slavery and contributing to the fight for emancipation.
• Slave laws existed in Jamaica, forming the legal framework that maintained enslavement.