MOVEMENT TOWARDS INDEPENDENCE Movements towards Independence By the dawn of the 20th Century Caribbean people were beginning

to understand what freedom meant were beginning to challenge the very basis of colonialism, particularly in the aftermath of two World Wars. This happened in two major ways through Economic Enfranchisement & Political Enfranchisement Economic Enfranchisement -The Condition whereby a country or nation achieves the right to determine how it will develop its systems of production. Despite the European control of the Caribbean economy here was resistance from people who wanted to develop their own means of making a living. Plantation economies were typically based on large quantities of cheap unskilled labour based on mono culture. Almost all of the harvest was to be manufactured in Europe. Food produce was haphazard and it was normally left to the ex-slaves to grow their own vegetables and fruits for domestic sale The downturn of sugar revenue in the 19th Century indicated that plantation economies would decline. Small and peasant farmers as result began to produce new crops as a result to diversify the markets for export. Cocoa, bananas, coffee, ginger, cotton, coconuts and arrowroot were grown by peasant farmers on smallholdings. Animals were also reared. This strategy of economic diversification attempted to make small farmers more independent of the planter and the small wages offered on the plantation and introduced them to self organization for the export market and develop new trade sophistication for the wider world Economic Enfranchisement They received little economic support from colonial who would prefer a subservient peasantry. They were often the source of discriminatory practices from the planters often refusing to sell them land and often sabotaged them in the process. However they also banded together to buy out plantations for impoverished planters. Baptist missionaries sometimes helped in these purchases forming in

cases free villages. Others with little alternatives just squatted on crown lands for example Trinidad and Guyana It must be remembered that effort to establish an economic basis for independence was done in colonial rule; it would have been more successful if the planters Werent so obstructionist. Movement from the plantations involved not only freedom from the system but freedom in earning for oneself. Ex slaves established free villages and peasant farming. Many became hucksters (higglers). For the indentured workers economic enfranchisement came in the retail/shop keeping /restaurant business for Chinese. East Indians established their market gardens, horticulture, rice farms and transportation. They used their skills to advance economically. NATIONAL LEVEL In addition to the importance of agriculture in the economy of the region, governments have made effort to diversify not only the agriculture sector but other areas as well with the intention of gaining economic independence. Efforts included developments in forestry, mining, manufacturing and tourism. Agricultural diversification included lime cultivation in Dominica; cocoa in Trinidad, nutmeg in Grenada, arrowroot in St. Vincent and rice in Guyana.

EXTERNAL FORCES9 (1945) of United Nations required advancement to self government Worldwide movement to give up colonies ( decolonization) Article 73 of countries.1947 Britain granted independence to largest colony in world (India).Labour Party in power in Britain supported self-government for colonies. B. INTERNAL FORCES (Response to metropolitan rule) Constant criticism of British rule in Trinidad and B. Guiana Violent response to British rule (Morant Bay Rebellion in Jamaica) campaign for elected representatives in the British colonies

C. GROWTH OF NATIONALISM Racial Awareness led by Garvey and UNIA Economic Depression (1929 - 1938) unemployment, high prices & low wages led to discontent with Crown Colony government. This led to series of disturbances throughout English speaking Caribbean ( 1934 in Trinidad, 1935 in St Kitts, St Vincent, St. Lucia,

British Guiana, 1937 in oil industry in Trinidad, 1938 in Jamaica and British Guiana). This showed Crown Colony government was out of touch with the masses hence the need for representative government.