Research Paper Introduction
I am writing a research paper on the cultural history of Martinique and the influence that African slaves had and the islands unique geography have on its culture and history. Martinique is an overseas Territorial collectivity of France. It has the same political status as homeland regions in France. After the Napoleonic wars, the island was given back to the French in 1845. During this period, the use of slaves on the island continued which led to an increased number of slaves in Martinique. This resulted in multiple slave uprisings with the most famous being the ones in 1816 and 1848.
The French minister of foreign territories, Victor Schoelcher, abolished slavery in the French Antilles in 1848. The freed slaves made up a large percentage of the population and led to the blend of African and French culture that Martinique has today. In my research, I will try to prove that these events are what led to the blend of Caribbean, French, and African culture. This culture is what makes Martinique extremely interesting and unique in nature as it is quite a rare blend to see.
In my paper, I plan to first go into greater detail about the history of Martinique and how it shaped its current culture while simultaneously highlighting the influence that African slaves had on its formation over time such as the creole language or the current ethnic population of Martinique. I will then address the geographic features of the island and how these also influenced Martinique's culture. I will detail thing such as:
- Historical events in Martinique that relate to the islands geography
- Martinique wildlife and nature and its impact on Martinique cuisine
- Martinique's beaches and natural beauty and its influence on Martinique as a tourist destination
In my paper, I will delve into things such as the tragedy of the Mt Pelée eruption and the circumstances that led to the importation and subsequent emancipation of African slaves in the region while also detailing why these things are so vital in tracing back Martinique's current vibrant culture. Stay tuned and find out more about Martinique's brilliant cultural history.
Love the organization you will be using in your research paper! It's a very great topic, and you seem to be very knowledgeable on the influence slaves had on your island!
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