Before slavery became illegal in certain nations and territories, there was nowhere for Africans who escaped slavery to go. Left with no options, they went deep into unknown territory in an attempt to escape and remain hidden from slaveholders.
Maroon Societies Definition
Maroon societies were societies created by escaped slaves in remote and treacherous areas to avoid capture and re-enslavement.
Fig. 1 - The Blue Mountains in Jamaica
These societies existed across the Americas wherever slavery existed, from the swamps of Florida and the Carolinas to the remote mountains of Jamaica to the tropical terrain of Brazil.
maroon
the term used for an escaped slave
Maroon Societies Time Period
By the early 16th century, there was a steady stream of Africans escaping slavery and hiding in remote areas. With time, there were enough runaways to begin forming small societies. Life was not easy as they faced treacherous terrain and had to forage for food. Recapture could mean torturous punishments or even death.
Maroon societies often worked with indigenous groups for mutual protection against European slaveholders
By the 18th century, plantations began expanding and European slaveholders on smaller islands overtook the maroon societies that existed. However, on larger islands or areas with more territory, maroon societies only became more established. These societies could grow to large numbers and include multiple generations. In Brazil, for example, the settlement of Palmares had 10,000-20,000 residents at its high peak.
When slavery came to an end in the 19th century, many maroon societies integrated themselves into the greater society. However, some maroon societies avoided assimilation and still exist today with independent and unique cultures. For example, the Saramacca (who formed their society in 1690) have a sort of nation of their own within the country of Suriname.
Maroon Societies in the Caribbean
The Caribbean and Brazil had a distinctly large number of maroon societies (in line with the larger number of slaves in these two places). We are going to focus on the Caribbean and take a look at two examples of maroon societies fighting against Europeans.
Guerilla Warfare
Maroon societies were notorious for their use of guerilla warfare against European slaveholders. Taking advantage of the environment, they staged ambushes where they raided plantations for firearms and tools and helped others to escape. In some cases, they also burned down plantations and poisoned slaveholders. Despite European governments passing acts and sending funding, maroon societies continued to attack and find success.
Maroon Societies in the Caribbean: Jamaica
In Jamaica, the case of the Windward Maroons and the Leeward Maroons gives us some important insight. The Windward Maroons lived in the East under the rule of Queen Nanni and the Leeward Maroons lived in the West under Kojo. These two societies were at war for a prolonged period before uniting against the British in the mid-18th century.
Queen Nanni is the only woman to have been honored as one of Jamaica's National Heroes.
Fig. 2 - depiction of Trelawney TownLet’s break this down because we can learn two important things from this example. First of all, it shows that maroon societies were independent of each other and not always on good terms. But it also shows the power maroon societies really had, especially when united. England was the global superpower at the time, and yet, the British were unable to quell maroon resistance and had to agree to a treaty.
Maroon Societies in the Caribbean: Haiti
In Haiti, we can see the power of maroon societies once again. In 1791, a group of maroons came together and decided to attack the slaveholders of what was then Saint-Domingue. Coming from the remote mountains of the North, the group descended upon the plantations. They burned plantations to the ground and killed any white settlers they came upon. This rebellion would turn into the Haitian Revolution.
Haitian Revolution
a slave rebellion that culminated in the end of French colonial rule, the creation of the free nation of Haiti, and the end of slavery
Fig. 3 - painting of the Haitian Revolution
The Culture of Maroon Societies
As we noted earlier, maroon societies were independent of each other. In Africa, there were (and still are) many distinct societies with their own cultures, languages, and governing systems living side by side. This meant that Africans in maroon societies often didn’t have these key societal elements in common and had to create their own unique blend.
Despite the differences between maroon societies, there are similarities across the board that point toward a uniquely African heritage. For example, many maroon societies used a matrilineal system.
The Significance of Maroon Societies
Maroon societies are significant as they were a large and important form of resistance for enslaved people. Whether it was the individual escaping to join a maroon society or the maroon society as a collective staging an ambush, Africans rejected slavery and fought for their freedom at every chance.
Additionally, the impact of these maroon societies continues far beyond slavery. Some maroon societies became large, self-sustaining societies with their own government, trade systems, military defense, and culture. Whether these societies still exist today, their culture and influence are still present among later generations.
Maroon Societies - Key Takeaways
- Maroon societies began to form across the Americas in the early 16th century as Africans escaped to remote and treacherous areas away from slaveholders.
- Larger maroon societies developed their own forms of government, trade systems, and military defense. They often teamed up with indigenous peoples for mutual protection.
- Maroon societies played an important part in rebelling against European colonialism and slavery.
- Just as in Africa, maroon societies were not uniform in their cultures and societal structures.
- Some maroon societies exist to this day but most assimilated to the greater society when slavery came to an end.
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