BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY: SLAVERY AND SLAVE TRADE IN TRINADAD AND TOBAGO:

Trinadad was a late starters in the plantations system. Prior to 1776 the population of the Island was small and until the 1780's there were very few Africans Slaves on the Island. In 1783 in an effort to increase the population and by extension, the prosperity of the Island. Under the Law called "Cedula Of Population"  was passed to encourage migration to French the Island. Under this Law incentives such as free land and exemption from paying most taxes were granted. Many French settlers were willing to migrate to Trinidad. The Haitian Revolution and the unrest in other French Territories acted as additional incentives.

Planters in Martinique, Guadeloupe and other immigrants came to Trinidad complete with all there possessions, slaves and way of life. In the beginning they planted cotton, cocoa and coffee. How ever by 1797 when the British conquered Trinidad sugar had become the most important crop. With the increase of sugar in Europe, more sugar plantations were set up to meet increasing demand. This in turn fueled the need for more slaves and slave labor. In the beginning the labour needs were met by the slaves who were brought to Trinidad with there French masters. There slaves were Creole. The sugar economy expanded and slaves were imported directly from Africa via the Atlantic Slave Trade. By 1797 when Britain conquered the Island, the slave population had risen to over 10,000 by 1802 this population had risen to about 20,000.