Slavery in Cuba began in the fifteenth century and ended in the early nineteenth century. Over one million slaves from Africa were brought to Cuba in the Atlantic slave trade. The first record of slavery in Cuba was in 1513 when a large group of slaves who were kidnapped from Africa arrived in Cuba. A large percentage of Cubans originated from the African slaves. Cuban slavery became very lucrative for the slave owners after the Revolution in Haiti since the newly independent nation, Haiti, withdrew from the worldwide sugar market and Cuba became the largest producer of sugar globally. As sugar production increased tremendously in Cuba, the demand for more slaves increased as well; thus more slaves were brought from Africa. These slaves offered human labor that was sufficient in the sugar plantations, thus bolstering sugar production. Sugar, therefore, became number one crop produced by slaves in Cuba. Trafficking of slaves surged during the period when the British occupied Havana. However, the slave trade in Cuba ultimately ended in the nineteenth century due to a number of factors. These included a series of revolts, anti-slavery laws as well as intensified anti-slavery patrols along coasts of Africa.
The slavery in Cuba was abolished by Spanish royal decree which made a declaration that the indentured enslavement system referred to as “patronato” was illegal. The system of exploitation and oppression was challenged by slave uprisings. In 1975, a free black known as Nicholas Morales led a slave rebellion that started in Bayamo and extended throughout Eastern Cuba. The revolt included whites and blacks. The Spanish army suppressed it quickly. In 1812, Jose Aponte, another free black, orchestrated a revolution of slaves as well as free blacks to overthrow Spanish colonialism and slavery. In addition to the two objectives, the revolution demanded termination of racial inequality as well as the slave trade. Aponte was captured together with his fellow leaders and executed brutally. Their heads were put on display, to warn other people against rebellion. However, the slave trade in Cuba collapsed eight years later through an agreement between England and Spain. Despite the collapse of slave trade, about 60,000 more slaves arrived in Cuba .
The war for independence continued for ten years, and slaves who supported the Cuban and Spanish anti-colonialists got their freedom in 1878 when the Abolition of Slave Trade Law was passed. This act considered slave trade illegal and declared its abolition. According to this act, any ships that were involved in the slave trade would be seized and immediately condemned. The owner and master would also be liable to a fine of 100 pounds per slave. The goods and ships would also be forfeited. The act was implemented, and many ships were seized, slave masters were fined, goods were forfeited and bounty was paid to those who captured illegal vessels. The male Africans who were freed from the illegal slavery were enlisted into the Royal Marines, Navy and the Army. They were dealt with, treated and considered in all respects as if they had enlisted themselves voluntarily. Children, women and those who were unsuitable for recruitment were bound as land owners’ apprentices. They also got employment opportunities in the local government and the military, thus reduced the number of slaves in Cuba tremendously and led to the collapse of the slave trade .
Engagement between Egba Nation Chiefs and the Queen of England for the abolition of the slave trade liberated African, Caribbean and American slaves that were found in illegal ships was freed. They were not allowed to return to their countries of origin since it was considered that they would be enslaved again. This action had a great impact on the Cuban slave trade as it played a key role in its collapse. Some of the colonies that were smaller and had mixed commission courts and vice-Admiralty realized that they were unable to cope with the large numbers of the freed Africans and made attempts to send them to other colonies. The Spanish authorities decided to transport some of the liberated Africans from Cuba to Spain and other colonies. By mid-nineteenth century, the trans-Atlantic as well as the Cuban slave trade was abolished mainly because anti-slaving patrols along Africa’s west coast and diplomatic pressures were intensified .
In conclusion, the slave trade was weakened by series of revolts that were orchestrated by free blacks. The African slaves were tired of the Spanish colonialism, brutality as well as slave trade, so they wanted change. They wanted freedom, and many died while fighting for freedom. A series of negotiations led to formation and implementation of laws that considered slave trade illegal. Strict rules were created to strengthen the fight against the slave trade. Eventually, the number of liberated slaves increased immensely by the nineteenth century thus putting an end to the slave trade in Cuba.
Works Cited
Albano, Teresa. "Today in Latino history: Slavery abolished in Cuba." 7 October 2013. People's World. 7 October 2013 <http://peoplesworld.org/today-in-latino-history-slavery-abolished-in-cuba/>.
The National Archives. "Abolition of Slave Trade." The National Archives (2013): 1-3.
