OIEAHC-SEA Chicago Conference

On 20 June 2015 I chaired a panel, “Smuggling almost with impunity”: Caribbean Provisioning, Commerce, and Contraband during the American War of Independence. The panel participants were Tessa Murphy (History), Geneviève Godbout (Anthropology), and Christopher P. Todd (History) all of the University of Chicago. Their papers examined the effects of the American Revolution on the internal and external trade of Caribbean islands of Jamaica, Antigua, Dominica, Granada, and St. Vincent. Each of the papers demonstrate how the American war exacerbated existing challenges in the islands providing certain groups (Caribs and slaves) an opportunity and impetus to seek greater independence from the empire. The war also created problems for planters, slaves, and other island residents by disrupting the flow of food stuffs and other essential goods to the islands.