Figure 1.-- With the end of slavery in the Caribbean -- except for Cuba and Puerto Rico (1830s), sugar production fell. The former slaves had no desire to continue working on the plantations. We see sugar production on other islands, primarily British islands. This occurred primarily after the British began to emancioate slaves on their Caribbeann island colonies (1835). This caused a rapid fall in sugar production, opening up commercial oportunities in the Pacific. Here we see Pacifi Island workers on a sugar cane plantation in Queensland (nrtheaster Australia) during the late-19th century.

The history of sugar began in Oceania (Papua), but the commercial prorduction did not begin until the 19th century. With the end of slavery in the Caribbean -- except for Cuba and Puerto Rico (1830s), sugar production fell. The former slaves had no desire to continue working on the plantations. We see sugar production on other islands, primarily British islands. This occurred primarily after the British began to emancioate slaves on their Caribbeann island colonies (1835). This caused a rapid fall in sugar production, opening up commercial oportunities in the Pacific. The Dutch who had pefected the tehnology of sugar production in Brazil decided to found a sugar industry in what would become the Dutch East Indies. They chose Java and exploited the Javanese as their low-cost work force. Dutch officials required the Javanese to grow sugar cane for them. They had to grow the cane and deliver it to the Dutch factories. Thry also had to work in the factories. The whole operation was based on the 'Cultivation System' (1850s). Some 94 water-powered Dutch sugar factories processed raw cane into refined sugar. The Dutch collected detailed information on over 10,000 villages. The Cultivation System was a plan by which catchment areas were identified with a radius of approximately 4-7 kilometers around each factory. The villagers within these catchment areas were then reorganized to grow cane. It was a system of slavery in all but name. We see similar developments in Autralia and British Paific islands. Woekers were recrited (a mix of voluntary and involuntary methods) from various Pacific Islands employed in British colonies, including British Columbia (Canada), Fiji, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, and Queensland (Australia) during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Smaller numbers also worked in California (United States) and Chile (Easter Island). ) They were called 'Kanaka' which is now seen as offensive and the term Pacific Island workers. America annexed thev Hawaiiann Islands (1898). Hawaiins were used s kabor by Anmerucan plner abndc before annexation, Japanese had been importdd. A further sugar development occurred after World War I. The Japanse seized German Pacific islands. After the War they were made League of Nations mandates which included the Masriana Islands. The Japanese took a special interest in Saipan. And unlike the other islands turned it into a agriculyural colony, even transfering Japanese colonists. We are not sure how they were recruited. Many seem to have been Okinawans and Koreans--groups of less social status than Home Islands Japanese. As a result they would be the first Japanese civilians encountered by the Americans in the Pacific War.

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Created: 2:42 AM 11/28/2023
Last updated: 2:42 AM 11/28/2023