Movements towards Independence
AT THE end of this lesson, students will be able to define: a. Political enfranchisement b. Economic enfranchisement c. Adult suffrage and franchise d. Internal self-government
According to Patricia Mohammed (2007), from emancipation to the end of the 19th century, Caribbean people were resisting mental oppression and servitude. As such, many began to challenge colonialism. In the Caribbean, Haiti, formerly known as St Domingue, was the first country to gain emancipation and independence. The infamous Haitian Revolution was like a watershed for other countries, urging them to pursue their independence from colonial dictatorship. Through heavy taxation, the metropoles gained significant amount of profits from their Caribbean colonies, and this prompted local assemblies to be at odds with the governing bodies, who were appointed by the Crown. As a result, in countries such as Jamaica, outbreaks such as the Morant Bay Rebellion of 1865 emerged as a form of protest against colonial rule. Some of the significant movement towards independence in the Caribbean encapsulates:
1. POLITICAL ENFRANCHISEMENT
This is the ability of a nation to govern its own affairs. This was mainly due to events such as the emergence of trade unions in the Caribbean, which argued extensively against unfair practices of workers; soldiers who had returned to Britain from the World War, who were displeased with the level of racism meted out to them; migration, which brought about new philosophical ideologies; and the Great Depression of 1929-38, which caused numerous social unrests. According to scribd.
com, an almost immediate response of the British government to the labour ferment in the West Indies was the appointment of a Royal Commission in August 1938 to investigate social and economic conditions in the colonies and to make recommendations.
2. UNIVERSAL ADULT SUFFRAGE AND INTERNAL SELF-GOVERNMENT
■ Franchise – The right to vote in a public election.
■ Universal adult suffrage – This is the process whereby voting privileges were granted to adults age 21 and over, but later reduced to age 18. Prior to this, voting was only done according to race, gender and social status.
Jamaica experienced universal adult suffrage in 1944, Trinidad in 1945, Barbados in 1950, and British Guiana in 1953. This was a significant milestone for all four
With this political empowerment, through mass politics, there was the creation of local political parties, such as the Jamaica Labour Party, which was started by Sir Alexander Bustamante; the People’s National Party – Norman Manley; Barbados Progressive League – Grantley Adams; the People’s Progressive Party – Cheddi Jagan in Guyana; and, finally, the People’s National Movement in Trinidad and Tobago – led by the legendary Eric Williams. Above is a graphical presentation of the founders of the political parties aforementioned.
With this set in motion, there was the establishment of an internal self-government which consisted of a prime minister and a Cabinet, who were in control of all the political affairs of the country. As time progressed, there was a colonial disengagement whereby the metropoles
gradually distanced themselves from the political and economic affairs of their colonies. This disengagement meant political independence for most Caribbean countries, including Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and Guyana.
3. ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE/ ECONOMIC ENFRANCHISEMENT
This is when a country is set at liberty to determine its own systems of production in order for financial gain. Huckstering and peasant farming were some of the predominant ways to gain economic independence among blacks, including black women. Historian Bridget Brereton speaks extensively of how higglering was one of the main occupations of blacks in the Caribbean. In addition, there was the establishment of small family businesses, and saving societies and partner plans, in order for the colonies to acquire loans to trod on the path of economic independence.
PRACTICE QUESTION
The Caribbean’s political enfranchisement is a façade. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?