1776: A significant scare over an insurrection of the enslaved gripped Jamaica as the American Revolution disrupted the usual patterns of trade and

1776: A significant scare over an insurrection of the enslaved gripped Jamaica as the American Revolution disrupted the usual patterns of trade and military presence. Local authorities feared that the diverted attention of the British military would provide an opening for a massive internal revolt. The disruption of Atlantic shipping also affected the flow of provisions, leading to increased hunger and unrest among the enslaved. Reports of the political upheaval in North America reached the island, fueling rumors of an imminent change in the social order. This crisis forced the Jamaican Assembly to reorganize its internal security and militia forces.