Many of the slaves soon
learned new skills associated with sugar manufacturing, thus
reducing the need for white labor even further. The rising demand
for slaves meant an expansion of the slave trade, and, as West
Indian slaves had a high mortality rate and a low birthrate,
this meant a continually thriving slave trade.
As the ratio between whites and blacks widened, the problem of
controlling the slaves grew more serious. Brute force was the
only answer. The European governments had tried to solve the
problem by requiring the plantation owners to hire a specified
number of white workers. However, many owners found it cheaper
to pay the fine than to comply with this regulation.
In 1667, the British Parliament passed a series of black codes
intended to control the slaves in the Caribbean colonies. Other
colonial powers followed their example. The law stated that a
slave could not be away from the plantation on a Sunday and that
he was not permitted to carry any weapons. It also specified
that, if he were to strike a Christian, he could be whipped. If
he did it a second time, he could be branded on the face.
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