Question

question 8 of 10
why was saint - domingue one of the richest colonies in the caribbean?
a. it taxed the surrounding colonies in return for protection.
b. it used slave labor to grow crops for the world market.
c. it controlled trade throughout the caribbean.
d. it built manufacturing centers in the large towns.

Explanation:

Saint-Domingue (modern Haiti) relied on enslaved people to cultivate highly profitable cash crops like sugar, coffee, and indigo, which were in high demand in European and global markets. This forced, unpaid labor allowed the colony to produce massive quantities of these valuable commodities at extremely low cost, making it the wealthiest Caribbean colony. The other options are incorrect: it did not tax surrounding colonies for protection, did not control regional trade, and focused on agricultural production rather than manufacturing.

Answer:

B. It used slave labor to grow crops for the world market.