History of Jamaica

 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.

18^th 20^th 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 6^th ,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