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

The Slavery Abolition Act is the key piece of legislation that officially ended slavery in the British Caribbean colonies. Passed in 1833, the Act marked a significant turning point in British colonial policy regarding slavery. It declared that slavery was abolished throughout the British Empire, with the actual emancipation of enslaved individuals taking effect on August 1, 1834.

This act was a culmination of a lengthy movement led by abolitionists and reformers, who highlighted the moral and ethical issues surrounding the practice of slavery. Its passage demonstrated a shift in public opinion and government policy, influenced by various factors, including religious movements and economic considerations that recognized the inefficiencies of slave labor.

The other options presented are not the formal legislation that officially ended slavery in the British Caribbean. The Emancipation Act, for example, refers to the legislative processes in specific territories that followed the Slavery Abolition Act and did not represent the broader legislative action at the Empire level. Similarly, while the term "Plantation Act" may be associated with regulations regarding plantation management, it did not have a direct role in the abolition of slavery. The Abolition of Slavery Declaration is not a recognized piece of legislation in this context.