1

Thesis Statement

The decline thesis of Dr. Eric Williams entails a much more logical cause of the decline of
British West Indian slave system in the 1830’s than the Econocide theory of Seymour Drescher.
2

Introduction
The abolition of slavery was one of the major landmarks of the 19 th century. However much

debate has ensued as to the defining factor which caused its eventual accomplishment. There are

two controversial theories which both attempt to shed light on this all important topic. Firstly

there is the Eric Williams Decline Thesis found in his work Capitalism and Slavery in which he

attributes the rise and decline of slavery not as an act of racial and religious control but suggests

that slavery was mainly driven by economics. He continued that any racial sentiments occurred

as a result of this economical system and the main reason why slavery was abolished was

because it was no longer profitable to the British economy.1 Seymour Drescher however suggests

within his work Econocide that the abolition of slavery hinged on the efforts of the abolitionist’

mainly the Clapham Sect and the Quakers. He posits that slavery was still very profitable at the

time of its abolition and that Britain suffered many losses due to their humane actions. 2 Within

this research this paper the arguments of both scholars will be examined with the intention of

proving that the decline of chattel slavery within the West Indies can be attributed more so to

economical factor rather than the actions of a few humanitarians. This is due to the reality that at

the time of abolition, sugar was quickly becoming a forgotten product in the British Empire, as a

result of the industrial revolution. It is only logical to assume that the metropole would seek

alternative means of acquiring wealth. This then led to the subsequent collapse of the slave

system as the collapse of the sugar industry, the formation of new plantations outside of the West

Indies and various actions taken by the House of Lords and Capitalists in Britain all would have

impacted the economic viability of the British West Indian Slave Institution leading to its

eventual collapse.

1
Williams. Eric. Capitalism and Slavery. Jamaica: Randle Publishers, (2005). P. 61.
2
Drescher. Seymour. Econocide: British Slavery in the Era of Abolition. North Carolina: University of North Carolina
Press, (2010). P. 13.
3

Historical Background
4

Before one delves into the analysis of the factors attributing to the decline of slavery within the

British West Indies it is important to first get a basic idea of the social, economical and political

climate in the exterior world in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Firstly one must look at the

affairs which existed. It is important to note that during the period preceding emancipation there

was a great deal of social unrest there. The Haitian revolution (1790-1802) essentially placed

hope within the minds of the enslaved for this subsequently facilitated a barrage of rebellions

namely an uprising in Barbados in1816. This rebellion signified a change in the general attitude

of the enslaved towards planters as they were now willing to openly oppose the mistreatment

meted out to them by the whites since Haiti proved that the whited were not invincible and could

be beaten. As Daniel o’ Conner the Irish leader of the House of Commons stated in (1832)“The

planter was dirty and begrimed, over a powder magazine ,from which he would not go away,

and was hourly afraid that the slave would apply a torch to it.”3 This highlighted the harsh

reality that planters were slowly losing control over their plantations.

There was also action taking place within the European continent itself as humanitarians

strengthened their efforts in the plight of emancipating the slaves. Groups such as the Clapham

Sect were fundamental in raising awareness of the harsh and inhumane treatment which the

enslaved were subjected to. Abolitionists such as Thomas Clarkson worked tirelessly in creating

pamphlets and essays which highlighted the inhumane treatment and conditions which the slaves

endured. As Eric Williams states in his book Capitalism and Slavery “Clarkson was an

indefatigable worker, who conducted endless and dangerous researches into the conditions and

consequences of the slave trade, a prolific pamphleteer whose history of the abolition movement

3
Carringtion. Selwyn. “The State of the Debate on the Role of Capitalism in Ending Slavery.” Caribbean Slavery in
the Atlantic World 2nd Ed.(2000): pg.1031
5

is still classic”4 This highlights the general consensus at the time in Britain where a lot of effort

was being placed into emphasising the extreme conditions which existed in the British West

Indian plantations.

Meanwhile, the British West Indies was in bad shape as sugar production was receiving stiff

competition from plantations in Brazil and Cuba and there was also the dawn of beet sugar which

supplied the European market an alternative to British West Indian cane sugar at cheaper prices.

The industrial revolution ensured that there were cheaper and more efficient means by which the

English monarchy could acquire wealth. As stated in an article entitled the Decline of the

British West Indies “the increasing lack of profit of the Caribbean population coincided with its

decreasing lack of importance to the metropolitan countries.”5 It can therefore be posited that the

years preceding and after emancipation were trying times for those involved within the Sugar

trade which leads to the purpose of this paper.

4
Williams. Eric. Columbus to Castro. Jamaica: Randle Publishers,(2005). Pg. 312.
5
Drescher. Seymour. “The Decline Thesis of British Slavery since Econocide”Caribbean Slavery in the Atlantic World
2nd ed.(2000): pg. 1044.
6

Analysis

The Decline Thesis developed by Dr. Eric Williams certainly gives the most logical

explanation of the defining factor which affected the end of slavery and there is a magnitude of

research and work related to the topic to support this done by various historians including

Williams, Ragatz and Selwyn Carrington. They all indicate that the economic frailty of the

British West Indian plantation system was the main cause affecting the decline of the slave

system. Throughout their research they have arrived at defining components which have

influenced my decision in supporting the Decline Thesis of Dr. Eric Williams as they appear

more logical when compared to the works of Seymour Drescher, Stanley Engerman, David Eltis

and Thomas Haskell where its suggest slavery collapsed due to the actions of the humanitarian

movement and was still economically viable at the time of abolition.

Firstly it is important to note that sugar and slavery are continuously linked in terms of West

Indian history. Therefore a decline in the demand of sugar would have led to a decline in the

demand for slaves. This was evident during the late 18th and early 19th century as advancements

in British industry and the expansion of sugar plantations in Brazil and Cuba meant that sugar

was slowly declining and becoming a burden to the British economy. This meant that young and

old entrepreneurs were seeking alternative means of acquiring wealth which as the trade in slaves

was gradually becoming irrelevant as well, since a decline in sugar meant a decline in the

profitability of the slave trade. As Eric Williams in Capitalism and Slavery correctly states

“The Capitalists had first encouraged West Indian slavery then helped destroy it. When British

Capitalism depended on the West Indies, they ignored slavery or defended it. When British

capitalism found the West Indian monopoly a nuisance, they destroyed West Indian slavery as a
7

first step in the destruction of the West Indian monopoly.”6 essentially indicates that slavery was

frankly speaking a means to an end. When West Indian Sugar was profitable the capitalists in

Britain championed its cause however as it slowly became a burden to the British economy the

Capitalists were quick to champion the cause of abolitionists as economically it did not suite the

interests of Great Britain. Drescher in his work “Econocide” where he explains his theory that

slavery collapsed due to humanitarian means and contradicts the opinion of Williams begs to

differ as he suggests “I found no decline in the value of the British Slave system until well after

the slave system”7 Drescher is of the opinion that the economic value of the slave trade was not

in decline but was however still very profitable to the British West Indies. As he posited that

using the very statistics Eric Williams employed in his Decline Thesis there was a noted decline

in the profitability of sugar and slavery indicated in the period 1772 to 1822 the rate of British

Trade was equivalent to the rate of British Trade in 1722 which suggested that West Indian

Sugar production was on its way up. However noted historian Brion Davis in his book “The

Problem of Slavery in the Age of Revolution” most adequately rebuts Drescher’s stance as he

states “opposition to slavery cannot be divorced from the vast economic changes that

contributed to a larger ideology that ensured stability while initiating social change”8 With this

statement Davis essentially points out the major flaws within the “Econocide” theory as he

suggests that it would be completely illogical to assume that the system of slavery was not in

economic upheaval as while the statistics suggest that sugar accounted for 10% of British long

distance trade in 1772 equivalent to that which was traded in 1722 this still did not account for

external factors which influenced this rise suggesting that the data has been bent suit the needs of

6
Williams. Eric. Capitalism and Slavery. Jamaica: Randle Publishers,(2005). Pg. 112.
7
Drescher. Seymour. Econocide: British Slavery in the Era of Abolition. North Carolina:University of North Carolina
Press, (2010). Pg. 45.
8
Davis. Brion. The Problem of Slavery in the Age of Revolution Oxford: Oxford University Press, (1999) pg. 23.
8

Drescher as it is quite evident that the decline of West Indian sugar was not steady and there

were occasions when a rise in profitability would have occurred. However these were usually

attributed to external factors such as the Haitian Revolution and had little to do with the

efficiency of the British West Indian Plantation Society.

When America liberated itself from British imperialism in 1763 it economically crippled the

West Indies sugar plantation as America served as the means by which the Caribbean colonies

acquired goods essential for the maintenance of the plantation. As noted historian Dr. Eric

Williams states in his work “Capitalism and Slavery” “thus did the North American colonies

come to have a recognized place in imperial economy, as purveyors of the supplies needed by the

sugar planters and their slaves”9 the heavy dependence which British West Indian territories had

on America proved detrimental as when Britain recognised American Independence it essentially

meant that America became subject to the Navigation Acts (1651) which prohibited trade with

countries outside the British Monarchy. This resulted in devastation in the West Indies not only

because they were unable to receive the essentials of survival which they required but they no

longer were able to engage in trade with the American Continent. This meant that the colonies

were not only over producing but had lost a crucial export partner hence crippling the West

Indian Plantation Society 10. Drescher strongly disagrees with this point as he posits that whilst

the loss of America was significant in terms of the provision of supplies to the British colonies,

he noted there was no real change in the quantity traded by the British islands when comparing

the years 1722 to 1772 11. However as Selwyn Carrington in his work “The State on the Debate

on the Role of Capitalism in the Ending of Slavery” provides a logical analysis of both

arguments as he suggests it would have been illogical to assume that the Plantocracy was not in

9
Williams. Eric. Capitalism and Slavery. Jamaica: Randle Publishers,(2005) pg. 223.
10
Beckles. Hilary. Liberties Lost. Jamaica: Cambridge University Press ,(2004) pg. 165.
11
Beckles. Hilary. Liberties Lost. Jamaica: Cambridge University Press,(2004) pg. 168.
9

turmoil at the independence of America as supplies would have been much harder to come by

and much more expensive since it was common knowledge that the islands acquired all their

goods from America making the system of trade highly uneconomical 12.

Competition from plantations in Asia and neighbouring Caribbean countries such as Cuba and

Puerto Rico and the development of Beet sugar within Europe all proved to be detrimental to the

West Indian sugar market. This can be attributed to some very simple factors, there was more

land available in Asia and Brazil to commence large scale plantations as well as the fact that the

land within traditional British West Indian sugar colonies had become exhausted via centuries of

overuse The dawn of these cheaper more efficient alternatives to West Indian Sugar meant that

the plantations in the West Indies were at a severe disadvantage as it was cheaper to purchase

sugar from plantations in India and Brazil which produced sugar in greater quantity and of

greater quality13. This essentially led to the collapse of the West Indian Sugar Market and

subsequently the slave trade as plantations in the British West Indies could no longer rely upon

Britain to purchase their produce. Noted historian Eric Williams stated in his book Capitalism

and Slavery” The West Indian monopoly was not only unsound in theory, it was unprofitable in

practice.” 14This proves that as far as profitability went the West Indian sugar production simply

was not so. However noted Dreschian supporter David Eltis contradicts this as he is of the

opinion that the competition from the foreign sugar producing countries would only have served

to improve the productivity in the sugar industry and cites the increase in sugar production

during the years 1778-82 where there was a noted increase of 21 % 15. In response it should be

12
Carrington. Selwyn. “The State of the Debate on the Role of Capitalism in Ending Slavery.” Caribbean Slavery in
the Atlantic World 2nd ed. (2000): pg. 1036.
13
Ragatz. Lowell. The Fall of The Planter Class in The British West Indies. Oxford: Oxford University Press,(1929).
Pg. 122.
14
Williams. Eric. Capitalism and Slavery. Jamaica: Randle Publishers,(2005). Pg. 229.
15
Eltis. David. Rise of African Slavery in the Americas. London: Cambridge University Press,(2000). Pg. 346.
10

noted the work of Lowell J. Ragatz who initially suggested the economic decline of the British

West Indian Plantations in his work “The Fall of The Planter Class in The British West

Indies.” The point was made that whilst the sugar producing colonies of the West Indies were

producing a vast amount of sugar the amount produced exceeded the amount demanded creating

a surplus, hence there was wastage which would have led to economic turmoil. As simple

economics suggests increased competition would lead to increased productivity but not

necessarily would it lead to an increased profit. 16

Capitalists and Capitalism were also fundamental in the downfall of the West Indian slave

system. Capitalists particularly the East India lobby argued that the British Monarch was

spending too much money on the upkeep of the West Indian Islands and that money could have

been better invested in their countries as Britain was making heavy profit off the industries

within India and Australia. The capitalists argued that “general hardship could not be inflicted

on the community at large for the sake of affording a partial and unreasonable benefit to a small

number of its members.”17 This essentially reflects the ideals of the East India Lobby who

believed that the Monopoly which the British West Indies had established in the sugar market

was collapsing and that the British Monarchy should aim to invest in alternative means of

acquiring wealth. The capitalists also argued that the system of slavery was flawed as 19 th

century economist William Dickson wrote “it is a historical fact that slaves could not be bought

at the full value, without ultimate loss”18 which suggested that it was more feasible to pay a free

man wages than to clothe and feed a slave throughout his entire life. Invariably it suggests that

the entire West Indian economy was operating at a loss and was quintessentially a burden to the

British Monarchy. In his work “The Decline Thesis of British Slavery since Econocide”

16
Ragatz. Lowell. The Fall of the Planter Class in the West Indies. Oxford: Oxford University Press, (1929). Pg. 153.
17
Williams. Eric. Columbus to Castro. Jamaica: Randle Publishers, (2005). Pg. 422.
18
Whyte. Iain. Scotland and the Abolition of Black Slavery. Glasgow: Edinburgh University Press,(2006). Pg. 12.
11

Drescher states “it would appear that capital investment was increasing at a more rapid rate

between 1790-1805 than between 1750-70.The capital value of the British slave empire more

than doubled between 1785 and 1815”19he goes on to suggest that there was in fact notable

growth within the slave system and it is this increased growth which would have spurred on the

efforts of the abolitionists in England. It is important to note certain key faults in Drescher’s

Econocide argument as on the assumption that there was a statistical increase investment when

comparing the periods of 1750-70 to 1785-1815 we must account for the wider Caribbean and

events which would have transpired. Most importantly the Haitian Revolution which undeniably

would have led to an increase in investment in the non- French colonies which accounts for the

shortage that was created after 1804. However it should be noted that this still did not account for

the over production of the colonies and the depreciating value of sugar on the global market two

key issues which capitalists would have taken into consideration.

Acclaimed economist Adam Smith also performed a crucial role in facilitating the collapse of

slavery within the West Indies by his statement “in order to make slave labour cheaper than

free, it is necessary for the master to dismiss from his mind every generous sentiment, every

notion of justice and to consider the Negro only exclusively as a machine for production which,

with a minimum of subsistence, can function for four or five years at most. ” 20 In his work

Wealth of Nations, he cited a revelation that there was nothing to be derived from the colonies

and according to noted historian Selwyn Carrington “Hence the view of the West Indies changed

from islands of great economic value to colonies that drained the British Treasury”21 This

19
Drescher. Seymour. “The Decline Thesis of British Slavery since Econocide” Caribbean Slavery in the Atlantic
World 2nd ed.(2000): pg. 1047.
20
Smith. Adam. An Inquiry into the Nature And Causes of the Wealth of Nations. London: Bantam Classics,(2003).
Pg. 1098.
Carrington. Selwyn. “The State of the Debate on the Role of Capitalism in Ending Slavery.” Caribbean Slavery in
21

the Atlantic World 2nd ed. (2000): pg. 1040.

12

essentially supports The Eric Williams Decline Thesis as it suggests that the entire slave system

was merely an economic convenience to the British and when it no longer became economically

profitable there was no need to persist with such a system. Adam Smith’s “Wealth of Nations”

cited various issues which pointed to the fact that slavery was no longer an economically

efficient means of acquiring wealth from the West Indies and led to the general consensus among

the British Monarchy that the slave system no longer proved beneficial to the English crown. In
22
response to this noted Dreshcian supporters Stanley Engerman and David Elits pointed out that

there are various flaws which have been noted in both the works of Adam Smith and Eric

Williams which would discount much of the integrity which they hold in scholastic debate.

However as noted Historian Selwyn Carrington posited whilst there may be discrepancies in the

statistical data which was quoted by both Smith and Williams the theories which they presented

are quite logical and hold a great deal of scholastic acclaim and support.

The Reform Bill 1832 placed the nail in the coffin for the British West Indian chattel slavery

system. The bill limited the number of seats which the planters of West India Lobby held in the

House of Lords and signified that the British Monarchy recognised the fact that the sugar crop

and slave trade were no longer beneficial to Britain economically. As Merivale an Oxford

undergraduate (1839) stated “the West Indians however, could not see this and acted as all

vested interests do. They put up a desperate fight struggling by the aid of their accumulated

wealth against the encroaching principle of decay”23 essentially suggesting that the Reform Bill

signalled the end of West Indian dominance of the British Treasury. Britain had acquired what

wealth they could have from the West Indies and as the colonies became economically futile

they left them to suffer. Thomas Haskell a noted supporter of Drescher and the author of

22
Engerman. Stanley. The Cambridge World History of Slavery. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press,(2011) pg.
65
23
Williams. Eric. Columbus to Castro. Jamaica: Randle Publishers,(2005) pg.332
13

“Capitalism and the Origins of Humanitarian Sensibility” tried to abdicate the role of

humanitarians in the collapse of slavery by suggesting that the Reform Bill of 1832 was not an

attempt to side-line the planters but an attempt to improve the productivity and innovation among

British colonies as it encouraged the growth of the laissez faire style of leadership and a shift

away from the mercantilist system. As he posits, this also occurred in the Dutch colonies and was

responsible for breaking the monopoly on trade which the Dutch had. 24 It should however be

noted whilst this may be true a shift away from the mercantilist system was essentially the same

as ending the British West Indian plantation society as its entire foundation was heavily

mercantile and relied on the planters providing for the mother country which was no longer

possible due to economic frailties.

Conclusion

Seymour Drescher’s Econocide Theory based the decline of the British West Indian Slavery on

the concerted efforts of the humanitarian movements which occurred during the period of

24
Haskell. Thomas. “Capitalism and the Origins of Humanitarian Sensibility.” Michigan: Oxford University Press,
(1985) pg. 339.
14

industrial revolution within Britain. However from the arguments given above it is clear to see

that although the humanitarian movements did perform a vital role in achieving the collapse of

slavery it was not the major factor which attributed its decline Williams states within his work

Capitalism and Slavery “the humanitarians were the spearhead of the onslaught which destroyed

the West Indian system and freed the Negro, but their importance is misunderstood and grossly

exaggerated by men who have sacrificed scholarship to sentimentality and like the scholars of

old, placed faith before reason and evidence.”25 The statement suggests that while humanitarians

did inform the public of the terrors of slavery ultimately slavery collapsed via the same means

from which it was birthed, economic principles. As noted humanitarian Thomas Buxton once

said “slavery will never be abolished it will decline, it will expire, it will as it were burn itself

down into its sockets and go out…we shall leave it to decay, slowly, silently, almost

imperceptibly to die away and be forgotten.”26 Buxton like most humanitarians had come to the

knowledge that their efforts as valiant as they may have been would never have fully

championed the cause of abolition. The only means by which slavery was truly to be abolished

was if it no longer economically satisfied the British Treasury. As noted poet R. R. Madden an

ex- slave wrote “With twenty hours of remitting toil/ twelve in the field eight indoors to boil, or

grind the cane-believe me few grow old, but life is cheap and sugar Sir!-is gold”27

Bibliography

BOOKS:
1. Beckles. Hilary. Liberties Lost. Jamaica: Cambridge University Press ,(2004).
2. Davis. Brion. The Problem of Slavery in the Age of Revolution Oxford: Oxford University Press, (1999).
3. Drescher. Seymour. Econocide: British Slavery in the Era of Abolition. North Carolina: University of North
Carolina Press, (2010).

25
Williams. Eric. Capitalism and Slavery. Jamaica: Randle Publishers, (2005). Pg. 12.
26
Williams. Eric. Columbus to Castro. Jamaica: Randle Publishers, (2005) pg. 334.
27
Carrington. Selwyn. “The State of the Debate on the Role of Capitalism in Ending Slavery.” Caribbean Slavery in
the Atlantic World 2nd ed. (2000): pg. 1038.
15

4. Eltis. David. Rise of African Slavery in the Americas. London: Cambridge University Press,(2000).
5. Engerman. Stanley. The Cambridge World History of Slavery. Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press,(2011).
6. Haskell. Thomas. “Capitalism and the Origins of Humanitarian Sensibility.” Michigan: Oxford University
Press, (1985).
7. Ragatz. Lowell. The Fall of The Planter Class in The British West Indies. Oxford: Oxford University
Press,(1929).
8. Smith. Adam. An Inquiry into the Nature And Causes of the Wealth of Nations. London: Bantam
Classics,(2003). Pg. 1098.
9. Williams. Eric. Capitalism and Slavery. Jamaica: Randle Publishers, (2005).

10. Williams. Eric. Columbus to Castro. Jamaica: Randle Publishers, (2005).

11. Whyte. Iain. Scotland and the Abolition of Black Slavery. Glasgow: Edinburgh University Press,(2006).

ARTICLES:

1. Carringtion. Selwyn. “The State of the Debate on the Role of Capitalism in Ending Slavery.” Caribbean
Slavery in the Atlantic World 2nd Ed.(2000.
2. Drescher. Seymour. “The Decline Thesis of British Slavery since Econocide”Caribbean Slavery in the Atlantic
World 2nd ed.(2000).