1776-Jul.: Just as the Declaration of Independence appeared in the North American mainland, enslavers in Jamaica’s Hanover parish narrowly averted an uprising…

1776-Jul.: Just as the Declaration of Independence appeared in the North American mainland, enslavers in Jamaica’s Hanover parish narrowly averted an uprising of the enslaved. Enslaved people along the coast attempted to strike a blow for freedom, fueled by the ideological currents of the nearby revolt against British rule. In the aftermath of this scare, white Jamaicans spoke anxiously about the dangers posed by revolutionary news crossing the sea. Meanwhile, black sailors in Bermuda took to privateers to run powder and ammunition to the American rebels. These widespread dislocations proved that the winds of revolution swept through the entire Caribbean basin, affecting colonies far beyond the mainland.