On this day in 1823, more than 10,000 enslaved Guyanese people rose up against their masters to demand better working conditions. While rebels generally abhorred violence, holding whites hostage in their homes and stockades to make demands, the state declared martial law, killing hundreds of people and displaying their corpses as a warning to the survivors.

The revolt took place in modern day Guyana, then the British colony of Demerara-Essequibo. The colony's primary export was sugar, and black slaves drastically outnumbered other groups on the island. The year of the uprising, the population consisted of approximately 2,500 whites, 2,500 freed blacks, and 77,000 slaves.

The rebellion was closely linked to the church of John Smith, a British missionary. One of the primary instigators of the uprising was Jack Gladstone, the son of Quamina, a prominent member of Smith's church.

Upon learning of his son's plans, Quamina opposed the revolt, urging the planners to initiate a strike instead, and to not use violence. Quamina also informed John Smith of the plans, which Smith declined to disclose to the authorities.

On August 18th, 1823, more than 10,000 slaves rose up against their masters to demand better treatment and more rights as slaves. Slaves generally abhorred violence, choosing instead to hold whites hostage in their homes and stockades as leverage with which to make their demands. Despite the large scale of the revolt, some slaves stayed loyal to their masters and defended their plantations.

The Governor immediately declared martial law, and, when a crowd of 2,000 slaves refused to disperse on order of a colonial militia, soldiers fired into the crowd, killing hundreds of people. Within two days, the rebellion was suppressed.

In the weeks following the suppression of uprising, the colonizers executed dozens of slaves, displaying the dismembered heads of those killed as a warning to the rest.

Jack Gladstone was deported to was sold and deported to St. Lucia, while Quamina was hunted down and killed on September 23rd. John Smith was arrested for not informing the government of the plans of rebellion and died in prison. His death became a watershed moment in the British abolitionist movement; he was deemed the "Demerara Martyr".

Under pressure from London, the Demerara Court of Policy passed various reforms for slave labor in 1825, institutionalizing working hours and some civil rights for the enslaved. The British government outlawed slavery in all of its territories in 1838.

Megathreads and spaces to hang out:

reminders:

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  • QuietCupcake [any, they/them]
    ·
    2 years ago

    Yee, the modlog is nigh undecipherable what with regular user deletions and all the logs not being shown by default (mods?). Better than nothing though.

    • forcequit [she/her]
      ·
      2 years ago

      idk about logs not showing? Unless you mean the unattributable actions which, fair tbh. Ymmv tho?

      • QuietCupcake [any, they/them]
        ·
        2 years ago

        Nah, there's a ton of logs that don't show. Most are like "well there's no need to show them" like in the the ban appeal log (the only one that's visible is over a year old, but believe me, there have been a LOT more filed). There is also shit that doesn't make it to the modlog, which is fine. I get it. A lot of it is just pure bullshit. But I think sometimes things fall into that hole that shouldn't? Maybe?

        • gremlin [they/them]
          ·
          2 years ago

          comment removals tend to get hidden unless you filter it to just show comment removals

          • QuietCupcake [any, they/them]
            ·
            2 years ago

            Didn't know I could even do that. But I sorted by new and I saw noting of A_Serbian_Milf, TrashCompact, or my own appeal from a week or something ago. Maybe I need to be more up to date on the UI. Still... it feels like people are getting removed for things that... were never before banworthy. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I need to take a step back. But I can't shake the feeling, especially after A_Serbian_Milf got banned for absolutely nothing, that there is maybe just one mod who might possibly be a little ban-happy? Just a thought.

        • forcequit [she/her]
          ·
          2 years ago

          I think it differs on where you navigate to it from? Try from the main page or your profile rather than the sidebar of a specific comm.

          Or un/check any relevant filters. Or you could be right idk

      • QuietCupcake [any, they/them]
        ·
        2 years ago

        I have no idea how it works, I just know I left appeals in the ban appeal thread and they don't show. Just a bunch of user-deleted threads and someone a year ago appealing baning banned from r/food. I made one like... a week ago? A little more maybe. Whatever, it's not there. I'm sure there's some explanation for it and that's not my main complaint here. I just feel like... someone is making bans happen more often, more easy, and for less reason, and it worries me. But then I'm a concern troll. so I should shut up. I don't know. I don't know. I'm tired. None of this really matters. I'd rather not be banned when I wake up and check this. Solidarity to all comrades here. But I'm losing my. brain.. or whatever. goodnight