Full emancipation in the British colonies, 1 August 1838

Background. The Slavery Abolition Act 1833 established an apprenticeship system for former slaves over the age of six, redesignated as "apprentices". Servitude was to be gradually abolished in two stages: the first set of apprenticeships was to end on 1 August 1838, and the final apprenticeships were scheduled to cease on 1 August 1840. Non-praedial slaves had a shorter term of four years, ending no later than 1 August 1838. This phased approach reflected the gradualist policy that abolitionists and the Colonial Office had pursued through the 1820s, fearful that sudden emancipation might prove disadvantageous to slaves and plantation owners alike.

Legislative Changes. In 1836, a select committee initially found the apprenticeship system satisfactory. However, abolitionists gathered evidence in late 1836 that apprenticeships were not fairly operated by planters. This fueled campaigning in 1837. The Act was amended in March 1838, with changes effective on 11 April 1838, setting the stage for the accelerated end of apprenticeships for specific groups.

Local Implementation. Barbados was the first colony to take action. Prompted by the encouragement of Sir Murray MacGregor, the island's governor, the Barbados legislature passed an end to apprenticeships on 1 August 1838 into law on 16 May. The passage gives the day and month of the legislative passage in the context of the 1838 amendment period. This local action coincided with the scheduled end of the four-year term for non-praedial slaves, which was to conclude no later than 1 August 1838.