1. Station 2
There were fewer slave rebellions in Barbados than on other Caribbean islands as Barbados had a strong police force also, because much of the island had been cultivated for sugar production, there were few places for people to hide.
On Sunday April 14th 1816, a major rebellion broke out across the whole of Barbados.
The rebellion had been carefully planned by senior slaves working on several different plantations and estates on the island. There were about 400 slaves involved in the revolt.
The rebellion lasted three days before it was put down.
The rebellion has become known as the Bussa Rebellion as Bussa was the slave who led the rebellion. He died during the rebellion.
This rebellion was significant because it helped to lead to the emancipation (freeing) of Barbados from the British Empire.
Read through the extract
What words does Colonel Codd use to describe the insurrection?
Do you think Colonel Codd was supportive of the rebellion? Why?
How did the slaves involved rebel?
How many soldiers were sent to deal with the insurrection? Does this figure surprise you? Why?
Extension
Draw the scene that would have greeted Colonel Codd when he arrived at St. Philip

4. Transcript
200 men of the 4th Battalion 60th Regiment under the command of Lt. Colonel Lomax, 200 men of the 15th Regiment under the command of Lt. Colonel Davidson, and the left wing of the West India Regiment (late the Bourbons) to which I attached their late officers, under the command of Major Cassidy, accompanied by a detachment of the royal regiment of St Michael’s militia about 250 strong under the command of Colonel Mayers, leaving however a force fully adequate to the protection of the garrison and town under the command of Lt. Colonel Edwards late of the Bourbon Regiment.
On arriving in the Parish of St. Philip, I found that the system of plunder and devastation, which had been pursued by the insurgents, had been very alarming in its extent and ruinous in its consequences. Canes, Plantations, Provision grounds, a few dwelling houses and rocks on some of the estates in that and the neighbouring Parish of Christ Church having been involved in a general flame whilst household furniture of every description, Rum, Sugar, Wine, Corn, and every species of food which had been stored were promiscuously scattered in the Roads and Fields near to the dwelling houses, with a rapidity and destruction that evinced the fury of the insurgents.