Demerara (/ˌdɛməˈrɛərə/; Dutch: Demerary, [ˌdeːməˈraːri]) is a historical region in the Guianas, on the north coast of South America, now part of the country of Guyana.

[3] In the founding documents, it was mentioned that the colonists should live in peace with the Amerindian population and respect their territories, because they fought with the colony of Essequibo against the French privateers and helped to chase them off.

[5] The colony was initially governed from Fort Zeelandia by Laurens Storm van 's Gravesande, the governor of Essequibo.

[8] The Dutch West India Company, who had a monopoly on the slave trade, was unable to supply them, leading to illegal smuggling from English colonies.

[12] The decision was criticised because the island was hard to defend,[13] and the planters had started to build houses around the guard post near the mouth of the river.

Governor van 's Gravesande formed an alliance with the Amerindian Arawak, Kalina, Warao and Akawaio[16] tribes,[17] and prevented the uprising from spreading to Demerara and Essequibo.

[18] The slave uprisings were a source of concern: in a 1767 letter to Frederick the Great, the King of Prussia, which aimed to promote the colony for German planters, a request was added for 100 soldiers.

A large fleet under Admiral Lord Rodney's command was sent to the West Indies, and after having made some seizures in the Caribbean Islands, a squadron was detached to take possession of the colonies of Essequibo and Demerara, which was accomplished[24] without even a fight.

[23] A deal was struck with the colony: all laws and customs could remain, and the citizens were equal to British subjects.

[34] Although these rebellions were easily and bloodily crushed, according to Winston McGowan, they may have had a long-term impact in ending slavery: The 1823 revolt had a special significance not matched by the earlier Berbice uprising.

After serving four years of a modified form of slavery euphemistically called apprenticeship, the slaves were finally freed on 1 August 1838.On 21 July 1831, Demerara-Essequibo united with Berbice as British Guiana, now Guyana.