Regulation and abolition of the Indian indenture system across the British Empire (1834–1920)

1. Slavery abolished; colonies seek new labor

   Aug 1, 1834Labels: Slavery Abolition, Sugar Plantations

   • UK Parliament
   • Britannica

2. Trial recruitment to Mauritius begins indenture era

   Nov 2, 1834Labels: Atlas ship, Mauritius

   • Britannica
   • Indian Indenture

3. First Indians arrive in British Guiana under indenture

   May 1, 1838Labels: Whitby ship, British Guiana

   • Whitby ship
   • Britannica

4. Apprenticeship ends, pushing demand for indentured labor

   Aug 1, 1838Labels: Apprenticeship System, British Caribbean

   • Britannica
   • Parliament

5. Indenture expands to Trinidad with the Fatel Razack

   May 30, 1845Labels: Fatel Razack, Trinidad

   • National Trust TT
   • Fatel Razack

6. Indian indenture begins in Natal’s sugar economy

   Jan 1, 1860Labels: Natal, Sugar Economy

   • SA History

7. Emigration laws formalize recruitment and oversight from India

   Jan 1, 1870Labels: Emigration Laws, Government of

   • SA History
   • Flinders Library

8. Fiji starts importing Indian indentured workers

   May 14, 1879Labels: Leonidas ship, Fiji

   • Leonidas ship
   • Fiji Times

9. Indian nationalist pressure grows against indentured emigration

   Jan 1, 1910Labels: Gopal Krishna, Indian Nationalism

   • Indian Indenture
   • Gokhale

10. India prohibits indentured migration to Natal

    Jul 1, 1911Labels: Prohibition to, India government

    • SA History
    • Indian Indenture

11. Indentured emigration from India formally ends

    Mar 12, 1917Labels: End of, India

    • Hansard
    • Indian Indenture

12. British government signals end; emigration halted in wartime

    Apr 4, 1917Labels: Colonial Office, British Government

    • Hansard

13. Existing indenture contracts wind down and are canceled

    Jan 1, 1920Labels: Contract Cancellations, Former Indentures

    • Indian Indenture
    • Hansard