this post was submitted on 23 Oct 2025
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To add, slaves generally did work which was very unhealthy, either because of the work itself or the environment (heat, diseases). IIRC (it's been a while since university) most slaves in the Caribbean died within years, generating a constant demand for new slaves.
Plantation holders were always looking for cheap labour from any source (compare indentured servitude), but it was a hard sell compared to the North American colonies.
Reminds me of the Danish colonies. After the king declared an end to slavery in 10 years (iirc) the plantation owners cranked up the cruelty to extract as much wealth as possible.
The enslaved were dying at much high rates and actually lead to the first slave revolt on the islands.