February 8, 2021
Pre-Colonialism/ European rule
Not much is known about the people
who occupied Jamaica between 4000–1000 BC. It was not until 1492 when Christopher
Columbus arrived on the island and first contacted the natives. After Columbus’s
discovery of the island, more Spanish settlers began sailing to Jamaica setting
up colonies, causing many of the natives to die in large numbers from disease and
enslavement from the Spanish. In 1655, The British began an invasion of Spanish
owned Jamaica, leading to a majority of the Spanish to flee and the British to
gain the land, with many former slaves moving into independent communities. With
the transition to British controlled to a large influx of African slaves to
work on sugar plantations and Irish prisoners.
18th 20th century/ Independence
Even though the trade of slavery
was abolished in 1807 and conditions for slaves were improved, the use of slaves
was still allowed due to the boom of crops like sugar and cotton, with slaves
still being mistreated. Due to this, many slave rebellions were formed, leading
to the destruction of dozens of plantations and hundreds of death, ultimately forcing
the British government to make slavery illegal in 1834. Over the next couple of decades, multiple natural disasters and high unemployment would make many Jamaicans want political independence from the British. It would not be until August 6th
,1962 when Island would attain full independence and having Sir Alexander
Bustamante as their first prime minister.
History reflected in people
Due to
the large population of African slaves being sent to Jamaica, 92.1% of the
population is Black/Black-mixed, with nonblack mixed making. This has led to
large African group on the island from places such as Ghana and Nigeria.
There are also groups of Asians that
make up the second large race like the Indo
Jamaicans and Chinese Jamaicans.
List of Islands to adopt
1. Jamacia
2. Cuba
3. Bermuda
