Editing Aruba (section)

=== Slavery ===
{{See also|Virginia Demetricia}}
In the 16th century, Spaniards engaged in coercive labor practices, deporting Arawak Indians to Hispaniola in 1515. Colonists exerted control over Indians on the "useless islands", mirroring the hardships of these faced by subsequent African slaves, marked by a denial of freedom and forced labor.{{Sfn|Alofs|1995|p=1}} After 1775 the names of African slaves began appearing in records, with examples such as "Cecilia" and "Apolinar" tied to families like Silvester and Alvarez from [[Alto Vista Chapel|Alto Vista]] near the coast.{{Sfn|Nooyen|1965|p=34-35}}

The Dutch colonizer recognized red slavery, particularly of Indians captured in wars. In the [[Guyanas]], Indians taken as prisoners in conflicts were traded, even following peace treaties. Though Indians on Aruba were not officially classified as slaves during the West India Company's rule, oral tradition in Aruba mentioned Amerindian slaves in the early 20th century.{{Sfn|Alofs|1995|p=2}} Father {{Interlanguage link|Paul Brenneker|lt=Paul Brenneker|nl|Paul Brenneker}} noted their presence in Curaçao as pseudo-slaves.{{Sfn|Brenneker|1986|p=87}} In 1827, Commander Simon Plats found 51 Amerindians treated as pseudo-slaves by Aruban families. Some were brought by shipowners involved in the slave trade. Plats had masters sign a declaration recognizing the freedom of the Amerindians, ensuring proper upbringing, education, and accommodation.{{Sfn|Alofs|1995|p=3}}

Contrary to common belief, Aruba had a history of slavery, challenging the notion that conditions were considerably better than in other Caribbean regions. Records are limited, with mentions primarily concerning Curaçao in 1750 and 1795. Aruba's circumstances surrounding slavery were comparatively less severe, leading to misconceptions that indigenous people were not enslaved. However, by 1862, 15 percent of Aruba's population were slaves, with 27 percent in Bonaire.{{Sfn|Nooyen|1965|p=34-35}} A ''Population Report'' from 1820 indicates 331 slaves in Aruba—157 indigenous people and 174 of African descent. In 1840, the number increased to 497 slaves, with 269 being indigenous people and 228 of African descent. Approximately, half of Aruba's slaves were of indigenous origin, and the other half were of African descent. Although Dutch law generally prohibited the enslavement of indigenous people, the actual practice varied.{{Sfn|Nooyen|1965|p=34-35}}

==== English interregnum and economic development ====
[[File:BNA-DIG-HARTOG-CAHA-001-014-014.jpg|thumb|Machinery for the 'cooking' of aloe (1903)]]
The [[British Empire]] took control of the island during the [[Napoleonic Wars]] holding it from 1806 to 1816, after which it was returned to Dutch authority in accordance with the [[Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1814]].<ref name="historiadiaruba1">{{cite web |title=Historia di Aruba |url=http://www.historiadiaruba.aw/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130621105425/http://www.historiadiaruba.aw/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1 |archive-date=21 June 2013 |access-date=28 July 2019}}</ref><ref name="Britannica"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britishempire.co.uk/maproom/aruba.htm|title=British Empire: Caribbean: Aruba|access-date=14 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130508162117/http://www.britishempire.co.uk/maproom/aruba.htm|archive-date=8 May 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="aruba2">{{cite web |title=Aruba History |url=https://www.aruba.com/us/our-island/history-and-culture/history |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190728181637/https://www.aruba.com/us/our-island/history-and-culture/history |archive-date=28 July 2019 |access-date=28 July 2019}}</ref> Aruba was then integrated into the [[Colony of Curaçao and Dependencies]], along with Bonaire. Throughout the 19th century, the island's economy evolved, centered around gold, phosphate ([[Aruba Phosphate Company]]), and the aloe vera industry ([[Royal Aruba Aloe]]), However, despite these economic activities, Aruba continued to be a relatively underdeveloped and economically disadvantaged region during this period.<ref name="historiadiaruba1"/>