The Sugar Revolution

what was the sugar revolution?

The Sugar Revolution indicates the drastic change from tobacco cultivation to sugar cultivation in the 17th century/1640s

Social consequences of the Sugar Revolution

- population changes and stratification of society - slavery - poor whites

Economic consequences of the Sugar Revolution

- price of land increased (from 10shillings to 5pounds within 6 years - dookhan) - size of land holdings increased - rise of the plantation economy - dependence on North America for food - mercantilism/navigational laws

main reasons for the change from tobacco to sugar

- problems with tobacco (quality & quantity) - growing demands for sugar in Europe

Political consequences of the Sugar Revolution

- the old representative system

Ways in which cultivation of the two crops were different

- tobacco required great care for each plant whereas sugar was an extensive crop and the planter is concerned about the state of the whole field - tobacco requires no machinery whereas sugar must be processed and so needs many buildings and machinery - tobacco could grow on smallholdings with little labour whereas sugar required many acres of land, much capital equipment and labour

factors accounting for the change from tobacco to sugar

1) the quality and quantity of West Indian tobacco was declining, whereas the quality and quantity of Virginian tobacco was increasing. Plus, there was a glut in the European market because of the amount of tobacco 2) sugarcane was a tropical product and could be grown easily in the climate of the Caribbean 3) sugar was not a bulky commodity and could be transported easily 4) demand in Europe for a less expensive sweetener than honey to sweeten tea and coffee was growing

What roll did the Dutch play in the sugar revolution?

1) they provided sources of capital to assist the English and French on their plantation colonies 2) they provided the know-how to cultivate sugar 3) they bought the planter's produce and provided a ready market for the young industry -> Dutch brought sugar plants from Pernambuco in Brazil

where did the sugar revolution begin?

Barbados in the 1640s

what business did the Dutch focus on when settling in the Caribbean?

Trading

the expansion of Dutch power in the Caribbean was influenced by......

the desire and need to expand Dutch commerce outside Europe, especially the need for salt