The essence of Belize society, a rigidly…

The essence of Belize society, a rigidly hierarchical system in which people are ranked according to race and class, is well established by the time of full emancipation in 1838.

The act to abolish slavery throughout the British colonies, passed in 1833, was intended to avoid drastic social changes by effecting emancipation over a five-year transition period.

The act included two generous measures for slave owners: a system of "apprenticeship" calculated to extend their control over the former slaves, who were to continue to work for their masters without pay, and compensation for the former slave owners for their loss of property.

These measures help ensure that the majority of the population, even when it is legally freed after apprenticeship ends in 1838, depend on their former owners for work.

These owners still monopolize the land.

Before 1838, a handful of the inhabitants control the settlement  and own most of the people.

After 1838 the masters of the settlement, a tiny elite, will continue to control the country for over a century by denying access to land and by promoting economic dependency of the freed slaves through a combination of wage advances and company stores.