**2. Socio-economic conditions in the mid-nineteenth century: abolition and serfdom**

The decrease in slave labor in Cuban sugar mills represented a dramatic situation for people in business and capitalist farmers, which reclaimed governmental support. In this particular situation, Cuban elites decided to promote Chinese coolie indenture, geared to replace slavery labor.8 Members of "Real junta de Fomento" joined efforts to repeal the sugar import tax claimed on the British Act of 1846. The profitability of the sugar business decreased because of the British Act and abolitionist policies.

*The act of 1846 had completed the ruin of our West India colonist…*

*Earl GREY could not agree with the Noble and Learned Lord that the Act of 1846 had the effect which the petitioners attributed to it.9*

Also, the acquisition of slave labor found more difficulties, own to British and French inspection of Spanish and Portuguese piracy on the African coast. Thus, businessmen suggested a substitution of acquisition of slave labor for Asian workers, many living in Southern China.

Asia appears as the cradle of the labor force because of the recent rivalry between China and England. Additionally, it is worthwhile to consider the previous utilization of Indian coolies by British entrepreneurs in the Caribbean colonies. Concerning the Chinese diaspora, almost 1,5 millon immigrants over 25 years went to the destinies of California, Australia, and Asian islands countries [11, 12]. In this context, the Caribbean also received many Chinese coolies. Despite fierce disputes inside the British Parliament about implementing Chinese coolies in their colonies, they became the last resource to impulse and invigorate Caribbean economies. In conclusion, the massive support to implement the Chinese labor force disrupted the global socioeconomic history because it made a more complex racial representative form and the labor relationship.

<sup>8</sup> Cf. Jung [9], Klein [10].

<sup>9</sup> *The Sun*, London, June 1, 1850; June 11, 1852.

*The number of efficient labourers introduced into the West Indies for the last few years is quite inadequate to the demand. The Mauritius has been receiving about 6,000 per annum, and the West India colonies only 4,000.10*

*The whole subject of the economy of labour, by the improvements of our machinery, our implements, and otherwise, has occupied the little advance has been made in this line beyond the exertions of individuals members of the society. Horses and mules, ploughs and cultivators, have, to a considerable extent, taken the place of the native and his hoe, and it is hoped that this reform will speedily become more general.11*

*The impossibility of the economy of labour, except at exorbitant rates, is the great difficulty which we stockholders have now encounter, and I think it is an evil that is likely to increase before it diminishes. Indeed, I expected that we shall have to depend solely on Chinese coolies, a number of whom have been lately imported, at considerable outlay, by a few stockholders, myself among the number.12*

*The effect of the discoveries of the precious metals in our Australian colonies has been to create a complete revolution in the shipping business… Besides this effect at home, our shipping has been in extensive demand in distant foreign ports, especially in the Chinese seas, for the purposes of conveying Coolie and other natives to California as well as to our own gold settlements.13*

*The slave trade and Free labour.14*

The manner dealers apply work engagement with the coolies aggravated existing notions regarding freedom because they exposed racial policies and European civilization notions, combined with a deep socio-economic crisis inside the Chinese Imperium since 1839 [13].

*While this race doesn't improve or mixture; while the government system doesn't change, the great work of Christian regeneration in China would become a significant problem... it is necessary for a moral revolution... the idols, the images, and any Buddhism monstrosity should fall in front of the Christian civilization [14].*

Marxist interpretation of labor relations in industrial England acquired significant relevance because it problematizes the place of freedom in modern and slavery economies. Exactly, business people and Chinese coolie dealers made a particular interpretation of the concept of freedom. In this sense, the extended discussion of British abolitionist policies, their performance by dealers, and their actual implementation are essential. First, however, it is necessary to recognize the misunderstanding between social and individual liberty under the frame of possibilities of labor engagement.15 On this premise, Chinese peasants struggled between the eventful local economy or embarking on a transoceanic ship oriented to—very possibly—unknown

<sup>10</sup> *The Morning Chronicle.* Sat, Oct 25, 1851.

<sup>11</sup> *The Express.* Monday Evening, Nov, 3, 1851.

<sup>12</sup> *The Daily News.* Oct. 12. 1852.

<sup>13</sup> *The Liverpool Standard.* Tuesday, June 22, 1852.

<sup>14</sup> *The Morning Post.* Sept, 191,857.

<sup>15</sup> CF., Williams [15].

destinations. The struggle for freedom results in a plausible consequence of precarious labor conditions, not the motivation for the diaspora [16].
