JAMAICA: Samuel Sharpe’s Rebellion

As a Baptist missionary, Samuel Sharpe was able to move about freely in Jamaica and he earned a reputation as an intelligent man. In his sermons, he articulated what he described as the “manifold evils and injustices of slavery” and argued that all people deserved freedom and equality. He was a staunch supporter of restrained and nonviolent resistance and encouraged slaves to refuse to work on Christmas Day and demand their usual holiday and pay. Plantation owners refused to honor the demands and slaves escalated the protest into an uprising, burning an estate. The rebellion continued for several days and more than 60,000 slaves were involved. British troops were able to stop the rebellion and Sharpe was ultimately found guilty and was hanged. Before he was executed, he said, “I would rather die on yonder gallows than live in slavery.”