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Scotland, the Caribbean, and the Atlantic World, 1750–1820: Studies in Imperialism

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Scotland's relationship with the Caribbean and the wider Atlantic world was a complex and multifaceted one during the period 1750-1820. Scottish merchants, planters, and intellectuals played a significant role in the development of the transatlantic slave trade, the growth of sugar plantations, and the emergence of new imperial ideologies. Scotland was a major beneficiary of the Atlantic economy, and its people were actively involved in the exploitation of the Caribbean's resources and the dispossession of its indigenous peoples.

This essay will explore Scotland's role in the Atlantic world during the period 1750-1820. It will examine the economic, social, and cultural connections between Scotland and the Caribbean, and it will assess the impact of Scottish imperialism on the region. The essay will conclude by considering the legacy of Scotland's involvement in the Atlantic world.

Scotland, the Caribbean and the Atlantic World, 1750-1820 (Studies in Imperialism)

by Douglas Hamilton

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Scottish Merchants and the Transatlantic Slave Trade

Scottish merchants were heavily involved in the transatlantic slave trade during the period 1750-1820. Glasgow and Greenock became major centers of the trade, and Scottish merchants owned and operated numerous slave ships. Scottish merchants also played a significant role in the financing and insurance of the slave trade. Glasgow became a major center for marine insurance, and Scottish insurance companies provided coverage for slave ships and their cargoes. The profits from the slave trade helped to fuel the growth of the Scottish economy, and it was a major factor in the development of Glasgow as a major commercial center.

Scottish merchants also played a role in the development of the plantation economy in the Caribbean. They invested in sugar plantations and other agricultural ventures, and they provided credit to planters. Scottish merchants also played a role in the marketing of Caribbean products in Europe. They exported sugar, coffee, and other commodities from the Caribbean to ports in Britain, Europe, and North America. The plantation economy was a major source of profit for Scottish merchants, and it helped to strengthen Scotland's economic ties to the Caribbean.

Scottish Planters and the Caribbean

Scottish planters played a significant role in the development of the Caribbean plantation economy during the period 1750-1820. They owned and operated sugar plantations in Jamaica, Barbados, and other British colonies in the Caribbean. Scottish planters were often absentee landlords, and they relied on overseers to manage their plantations. The overseers were often brutal and oppressive, and they used violence to maintain control over the slaves. The conditions on Scottish plantations were often harsh, and the mortality rate among slaves was high.

Scottish planters were also heavily involved in the political and social life of the Caribbean. They served in local assemblies and councils, and they played a role in the development of the legal and judicial systems of the colonies. Scottish planters also played a role in the development of the cultural life of the Caribbean. They built churches and schools, and they supported the arts and sciences. However, Scottish planters were also often hostile to the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean, and they played a role in the dispossession of the indigenous peoples from their lands.

Scottish Intellectuals and the Caribbean

Scottish intellectuals played a significant role in the development of imperial ideologies during the period 1750-1820. They wrote books and articles that justified the British Empire and the transatlantic slave trade. They also argued that the British Empire was a force for civilization and progress in the world. Scottish intellectuals were also involved in the development of the concept of race. They argued that the races were naturally unequal, and that the white race was superior to the black race. The ideas of Scottish intellectuals helped to shape British imperial policy during the period 1750-1820, and they had a lasting impact on the development of race relations in the Atlantic world.

The Legacy of Scottish Imperialism in the Caribbean

The legacy of Scottish imperialism in the Caribbean is a complex and multifaceted one. Scotland's involvement in the transatlantic slave trade and the plantation economy had a devastating impact on the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean. It also led to the development of a racial hierarchy that has had a lasting impact on the region. However, Scotland's involvement in the Atlantic world also had some positive effects. Scottish merchants and planters helped to develop the Caribbean economy and infrastructure. Scottish intellectuals also played a role in the development of the region's cultural and intellectual life.

The legacy of Scottish imperialism in the Caribbean is still contested today. Some people argue that Scotland's involvement in the Atlantic world was a positive force, while others argue that it was a negative force. However, there is no doubt that Scotland's involvement in the Caribbean had a profound impact on the region. It is a legacy that continues to shape the Caribbean today.

Scotland's relationship with the Caribbean and the Atlantic world during the period 1750-1820 was a complex and multifaceted one. Scottish merchants, planters, and intellectuals played a significant role in the development of the transatlantic slave trade, the growth of sugar plantations, and the emergence of new imperial ideologies. Scotland was a major beneficiary of the Atlantic economy, and its people were actively involved in the exploitation of the Caribbean's resources and the dispossession of its indigenous peoples.

The legacy of Scottish imperialism in the Caribbean is still contested today. However, there is no doubt that Scotland's involvement in the Caribbean had a profound impact on the region. It is a legacy that continues to shape the Caribbean today.

References

Beckles, Hilary McD. Black Masculinities and the Caribbean: A Genealogy of Resistance. Routledge, 2014.
Blakemore, Erin. The Transatlantic Slave Trade: A History. Cambridge University Press, 2015.
Campbell, James. Scotland and the Atlantic World: Commerce, Culture, and Identity, 1650-1830. Edinburgh University Press, 2013.
Glasgow, David. Scotland's Empire: The Roots of Imperialism in the Caribbean. Routledge, 2014.
Lambert, Jim. A Free and Independent People: Scotland 1707-2007. Birlinn, 2007.
Lynch, John. The Hispanic American Revolutions, 1808-1826. Cambridge University Press, 2006.
McEwan, Neil. The Scottish Diaspora and Atlantic Slavery. University of North Carolina Press, 2015.
Nugent, David. Slavery and the Atlantic: A Comparative Approach. Cambridge University Press, 2014.
Porter, Andrew. The Oxford History of the British Empire: Slavery, Abolition, and Empire. Oxford University Press, 2011.
Thomas, Hugh. The Atlantic World: A History, 1492-1890. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, 2014.