1788-Apr.: An abortive uprising of enslaved people occurred in Jamaica’s St. John’s parish during the month of April 1788.

1788-Apr.: An abortive uprising of enslaved people occurred in Jamaica’s St. John’s parish during the month of April 1788. This incident confirmed the expectations of enslavers that the public abolition discussions in Britain would cause internal trouble. White colonists feared that news of parliamentary deliberations would embolden the enslaved population to strike for their own liberty. To prevent further disturbances, governors were urged to pay particular attention to rumors spreading among the black communities. Enslavers worried that any suspense in the legal process was inherently dangerous and could lead to mutiny.