Suriname

            Located in South America, Suriname was filled with plantations in the 18th century. African slaves made up the working populations of the plantations. Since slaves were not treated well and living conditions on plantations were never good, slaves would constantly try to seek freedom. Suriname was a forest where African slaves from plantations would run away to. They built communities and were constantly warring with the white people for their freedom. 
            Being a slave on a plantation was not the ideal job. Unfortunately, Africans were not able to choose where they would be working and for whom.  African slaves were sold to white people by other whites. Since it was terrible to be working and living on a plantation, slaves would often try to run away. Many were caught and brought back to the plantation where their white masters would condemn a punishment that seemed fit. Punishments included limbs, especially legs or feet, being amputated or worse. It was a risk to try to run away and not many Africans were successful.
            When the slaves would run away, they would run into the forest of Suriname. Runaway slaves would come together in Suriname and create communities. The slaves in the communities created their own culture. They used a mixture of their own African traditions, European traditions they learned on the plantation, and American Indian traditions from the American Indians they met. Africans had their own languages, religious beliefs, and military techniques. These communities would begin and end quickly because of the white people who took evasive action and gunned the communities down. 
            The white people on the plantations had to often make peace treaties with the slaves in Suriname. The slaves, also called “Maroons”, would attack the white people. They would also sabotage the plantations. For the white people, the peace treaties would assure that there would be no more hostility towards the plantations, the Maroons would help to return runaway slaves and help track them down if need be. For the Maroons, these peace treaties would assure them freedom, territorial integrity, and the whites would help them with their provisions. These treaties were not always kept, though.
            The slave communities of Suriname kept appearing and disappearing until slavery was abolished for good. These communities were a way for the slaves to keep their independence and fight back. Many slaves ran away to the forests of Suriname. They were usually fighting with the white people. Peace treaties did not always work. These African slaves showed the white people what they would do for their freedom.  

Essay By Kylie W.
1450-1750