2. Read sources A to D.
Use the information to add others forms of resistance to the list.
Source A: Richard Ligon, A True & Exact History of the Island of Barbados, 1657
‘[A slave owner warned other owners never to delay the punishment of a slave……]
for if you do he will go hang himself to avoid the punishment.’
Source B: Edward Long, The History of Jamaica, 1774
‘[Slaves react against the overseers…..] by messing up his plans, purposely misunderstanding his order. Until he gets sick of them and resigns from his job.’
Source C: C. L Peytraud, Slavery in the Carribean before 1789, 1897
‘It did not take clever medical training to know that glass, pounded very fine and mixed with food could kill as well as poison.’
Source D: D. William Hickley
‘These slaves plague my life by faking illness for the purpose of getting out of working.’
3. Which form of resistance do you think was the most common? Explain your answer.#
Passive resistance was by far the most common form of resistance since most of the slaves were not brave enough and reluctant to talk to the master’s directly. Facing the slave masters meant severe punishments and hunger. The slaves were extremely anxious to face their masters and resisting passively was their only way to escape from the misery of their life and running away, pretending to be mad, faking illness was the only hope for the slaves.