Life on the typical 18th-century plantation OBJECTIVE:

At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:

1. Discuss the experience(s) of newly enslaved Africans during the seasoning process.

2. Discuss how environmental factors accounted for the high mortality rate among the enslaved population, primarily among newly arrived Africans.

3. Discuss how enslaved labour was utilised on a typical 18th-century plantation.

1. The process by which a newly enslaved African was initiated into plantation life is best described as: a) Chattel slavery b) Marinating c) Seasoning d) Code Noir

2. Another term for newly enslaved Africans was a) Enslavement b) Second gang c) Guinea bird

3. All of the following were methods of initiating enslaved Africans EXCEPT: a) Learning a new language. b) Being vaccinated. c) Becoming accustomed to plantation work.

d) Name removal.

4. The MAIN purpose of ‘stripping’ the enslaved Africans of their name shortly after their arrival on the plantation was to:

a) Provide an easier system of tracking their movement between estates.

b) Erase aspects of the enslaved Africans culture.

c) Remove a key aspect of their identify.

5. Verene Shepherd describes the attempt by enslaved women to control their fertility as “gynaecological resistance”. Which of the following were methods used by enslaved women to control their fertility?

i. Delay weaning.

ii. Use of herbal concoctions to induce abortions.

iii. Use of birth-control pills.

a) i only b) ii only c) i and ii only d) i, ii and iii

Questions 6 and 7 are based on the above picture.

6. The instrument shown in the picture was MAINLY used for the: a) Punishment of enslaved Africans. b) Branding of enslaved Africans. c) Mutilation of enslaved Africans.

7. The instrument above is associated with: a) The boiling house. b) The distillery. c) The workhouse.

8. Which of the following factors accounted for the high mortality rate of enslaved Africans? i. Poor diet and housing conditions. ii. Diseases. iii. Drop in reproduction rate. iv. Harsh working conditions.

a) i and ii only b) ii and iv only c) i, ii and iv only d) i, iii and iv only

9. Sugar canes which grew from stumps left in the ground after the previous year’s crop had been harvested were known as

a) Cane cutting. b) Cane plants. c) Stump canes. d) Ratoon canes.

10. Arrange the following groups of slaves according to their economic status on the 18th Century sugar plantation. i. Skilled slaves. ii. Domestic slaves. iii. Field slaves. iv. Factory slave.

a) i, ii, iii and iv b) i, iv, ii and iii c) ii, iv, iii and i d) i, iii, iv and ii

ANSWERS

1. c

2. c

3. b

4. b

5. c

6. a

7. c

8. c

9. d

10. b

Next week, the focus will be on Paper 03/1 – School Based Assessment