Prof. Macqueen
youvis1201
1.burn_.pptxHISTORY 015
THE MOVIE “BURN”
Lesser Antilles
QUEMADA
Burned to put down native rebellion.
The rock was white from bones of Africans who died during the Middle Passage.
Caribe Indians
Original inhabitants
of the Caribbean Islands
Caribe Indians
90% died in the first 30 years
Caribe Indian Rebellion
Those who did not
die, rebelled against the
Spaniards like in Quemada
Caribe Indian Rebellion
Need for
labor
Sugar and Slavery on Quemada
Slave labor on
Caribbean
Islands for
300 years
Walker (Marlon Brando)
First represented the British Admiralty.
By 1830 England
was the world naval
power.
Walker & the Elites
Local sugar
plantation owners
want independence
from
Portugal.
Brando and Britain
Britain wanted to control sugar
Production in the Caribbean
Slave Rebellion
Freedom for
the elites from
Portugal
Walker
Slavery was no longer profitable for England
Wage labor is the basis for industrialization
Prostitute---Wage labor
Wife----------Slave labor
Slave rule??
Slavery in the
Caribbean –slaves
were not allowed
to read or be
educated
Walker
Second trip transition period between Mercantilism and Capitalism
Private companies sponsored by the Gov.
Like the East Indies Trading Company
Walker
Royal Sugar Company—Corporations
Controlled the source of production
Controlled the government of Quemada
Workers lives were worse.
Jose Dolores
Jose Dolores
Was discovered when he helped a slave woman.
At first tricked into being a revolutionary
Jose Dolores
Who will cure your sick?
Slaves left out of any
modernization.
Jose Dolores
After winning the slave rebellion—he could not rule because as a plantation slave—he was not allowed to be educated—”Civilization belonged to whites [sic].”
In the 1840’s the British controlled the world economy and Jose Delores did not know how to play in that world
Haiti vs. Quemada
Difference between Haiti and Quemada
A. French had some educated Africans
B. Portuguese and British, none.
Jose Dolores, a revolutionary
Creates a
revolutionary.
Can he control what
he starts?
Jose Delores
During the 10 years between the slave rebellion and the rebellion of the cane workers Jose Dolores had become educated.
He was more dangerous and had to be stopped
“No one can give you freedom, you must take it yourself.”
The final rebellion
Walker said that it was important to stop the rebellion even if they had to burn the entire island.
Royal Sugar had interests in many other islands.
They used the strategic hamlet policy
The final rebellion
Break the support
between the villagers
and the guerillas.
British Army
Better weapons,
better navy
more soldiers
Jose Dolores
He knew death was the only way he would not be controlled by the British
Walker realized that Dolores was a much better person than himself.
Is a myth more powerful than fire?
Jose Dolores
Then felt that he should fight for his people and give his life for his people.
Symbolic of worldview of many during the late 60’s and 70’s
Conclusion
“Burn” was suppose to be a metaphor for Vietnam, but in fact it shows graphically the transition from Mercantilism to Capitalism/Imperialism and its effects on the peoples of the world who “cut the cane.”
