The Morant Bay Rebellion, otherwise known as the `Native Baptist War' represents an important watershed in Jamaican history. Traditional historiography has often represented the actions of Paul Bogle hero/villan Baptist Deacon and his followers when they marched on the Morant Bay court house in 1865 as being motivated by mere murderous intent. Thoroughly researched and drawing on original documents attributed to Bogle and other Native Baptists, The Cross and the Machete provides and alternative interpretation of Bogle's actions and introduces a new paradigm for understanding the struggle for equality, justice and liberation.