The planters of the British Caribbean resisted amelioration proposals primarily because they feared that changes aimed at improving the conditions of enslaved people would undermine their economic interests and the institution of slavery itself. They believed that such reforms could incite unrest among enslaved populations and threaten their control over labor. Additionally, planters were concerned that better treatment and rights for enslaved individuals would lead to demands for emancipation, jeopardizing their profitability and social order. Consequently, they prioritized maintaining the status quo over potential humanitarian reforms.