The Baptist War, also known as the Christmas Rebellion, was a pivotal event in the history of Jamaica and the broader British Caribbean. This eleven-day rebellion, which took place in 1831–1832, involved as many as sixty thousand of Jamaica’s three hundred thousand slaves, making it the largest slave rebellion in the British Caribbean at the time. The uprising, which began shortly after December 25, was named the Christmas Rebellion due to its timing, and it was also referred to as the Baptist War because many of the rebels were of the Baptist faith.
Jamaica, like most British Caribbean colonies, had an overwhelming majority of enslaved individuals who were of African descent. The enslaved population outnumbered the white population by twelve to one, making it a society deeply divided along racial and class lines. The conditions that led to the rebellion were complex and multifaceted. Economic depression had affected some impoverished whites, leading them to sympathize with the grievances of the enslaved population. Additionally, the ongoing debate about the abolition of slavery in the British Parliament had created tensions among the Jamaican planters, who vehemently opposed emancipation and used their influence to stoke fear and discontent among the slave majority.
The planning and organization of the revolt were spearheaded by Samuel “Daddy” Sharpe, an enslaved leader who had been granted limited freedom of movement on the island. Sharpe utilized his freedom to engage in discussions and plan the uprising, drawing inspiration from previous revolts in other Caribbean islands. At a prayer meeting in mid-December 1831, Sharpe and a select group of leaders outlined their plans for the revolt, invoking examples from past rebellions to rally their followers. The rebels then swore on a Bible to follow the plan outlined by Sharpe.
The rebellion commenced on Christmas Day when the leaders of the uprising initiated a strike, demanding more free time and a working wage. When the plantation owners refused to meet their demands, the strike escalated into a full-scale rebellion. On December 27, 1831, the rebellion broke out on the Kensington Estate near Montego Bay, with sugar cane fields set ablaze and white planters fleeing to nearby towns.
The Christmas Rebellion featured a military group known as the Black Regiment, led by a slave identified only as Colonel Johnson. This regiment clashed with local militia forces, and while they achieved some initial victories, they were ultimately defeated. The rebellion continued for eleven days, with sporadic resistance persisting for an additional two months as rebels resorted to guerilla tactics in Jamaica’s mountainous interior.
The aftermath of the Christmas Rebellion was marked by severe retribution against the rebels. Fourteen planters lost their lives during the rebellion, along with over 200 enslaved individuals. In the subsequent trials, over 300 enslaved men and women were executed, many through hanging followed by the public display of their severed heads around plantations. Samuel Sharpe, the leader of the rebellion, was captured and hanged on May 23, 1832, in Montego Bay. His legacy endured beyond his death, as he was posthumously honored as a National Hero of Jamaica in 1975, and his image adorns the $50 Jamaican banknote.
The impact of the Christmas Rebellion reverberated beyond Jamaica. Many historians assert that the uprising played a significant role in hastening the passage of the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 by the British Parliament. This landmark legislation made the purchase or ownership of slaves illegal in the British Empire, with few exceptions. Full emancipation for all enslaved individuals within the British Empire was legally granted on August 1, 1838.
The Christmas Rebellion stands as a pivotal moment in the history of Jamaica and the broader struggle for emancipation in the British Caribbean. It serves as a testament to the resilience and determination of those who fought against the brutal system of slavery, ultimately contributing to the eventual abolition of slavery in British colonies. The legacy of Samuel Sharpe and the rebels who participated in the Christmas Rebellion endures as a symbol of resistance and perseverance in the face of oppression.