Many of the slaves soon learned new skills associated with sugar manufacturing, thus reducing the need for white labor even further.

The rising demand for slaves meant an expansion of the slave trade, and, as West Indian slaves had a high mortality rate and a low birthrate, this meant a continually thriving slave trade.
As the ratio between whites and blacks widened, the problem of controlling the slaves grew more serious.

Brute force was the only answer.

The European governments had tried to solve the problem by requiring the plantation owners to hire a specified number of white workers.

However, many owners found it cheaper to pay the fine than to comply with this regulation.
In 1667, the British Parliament passed a series of black codes intended to control the slaves in the Caribbean colonies.