Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) Caribbean History Practice Exam 2025 – Complete All-in-One Guide for Exam Success!

The event that marks the beginning of African slavery in the Caribbean is closely associated with the importation of enslaved Africans to meet the labor demands of the sugar plantations that were established during the 17th century. The sugar industry became a lucrative enterprise for European colonizers, leading to a significant increase in the demand for labor. Indigenous populations had significantly decreased due to disease and displacement, creating a labor shortage.

While the arrival of Columbus in 1492 initiated European interest in the Caribbean, it was not directly linked to the onset of slavery. The establishment of sugar plantations required a new labor force, particularly as these plantations became the backbone of the Caribbean economy, leading to the systematic and forced importation of enslaved Africans. This resulted in the transatlantic slave trade, which brought millions of Africans to the Caribbean for labor purposes.

The importation of enslaved Africans in the 15th century did occur, but it was more sporadic and not as institutionalized as what happened in the 17th century with the advent of plantation economies. The abolition of slavery refers to the end of the practice and is significant in its own right but does not signify its beginning. Therefore, the establishment of sugar plantations as a major economic force in the 17