History of Jamaica

Jamaica is one of the larger Caribbean Islands and was originally inhabited by the Arawak. In 1494, the island was discovered by Chris Christopher Columbus on his second voyage to the West Indies. Under Spanish rule, the island was of little significance. Other European powers, like England, Netherlands, France and have carried out attacks on the island several times. In 1655 is the island in British hands cases. Under British rule the island grew into a major colony with large numbers of plantations, where slaves from West Africa were employed. Slavery is abolished in 1838, after which there are several other populations to the island have come to work in the plantations. In 1944 Jamaica got full self-government and universal suffrage, and the country became independent in 1962.



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[hide] *1 prehistory and European Discovery  ==Prehistory and European discovery[ Edit] == Reconstruction of a Taíno settlement onCubaThe original inhabitants of the island was from the current dating Venezuela and Guyana Arawak or Taíno people. They are in two stages on the island. Around 650 a.d. came the first group. The second group came between 850 and 900 on the island. Possibly stood on the island, as well as on Cuba and Hispaniola, already a primitive tribe, the Ciboney. The name Ciboney comes from an Arawak Word for cavemen. Would these fishermen came from Florida and along the coast may have lived. The occurrence of this population group has not yet shown by archaeological finds. Though it is widely believed that the Arawaks before the arrival of Columbus in 1494 were regularly plagued by attacks of another Indian tribe, the Caribbean. The Arawaks gave the island the name Xamayca, land of waterfalls.
 * 2 Spanish rule
 * 3 British rule
 * 4 Independent Jamaica
 * 4.1 the Buccaneers
 * 4.2 Plantations and slavery
 * 4.3 the end of slavery
 * 4.4 emergence of a new Jamaica
 * 5 Literature

Columbus landed on 3 may 1494 by his second trip on the North coast of Jamaica near present-day Saint Ann's Bay (Santa Gloria). Along the coast were here then different Arawak settlements. After Columbus sailed a little welcome reception the next day westward and went ashore at the current Discovery Bay Puerto Bueno was baptized by him. He took possession of the island in the name of Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile. 1503 during his fourth voyage Columbus hit in may in a storm West of Cuba involved. His actual goal was Hispaniola, but he suffered shipwreck and Jamaica on 23 June 1503 again came on to. Two sailors to sail to the Americas saw chance to get help. After wait a year he could leave the island again on June 29, 1504. ==Spanish rule[ Edit] == The Spaniards initially had little interest in the island. As a colony was a failure from the start. The Colony continued to arm and was more a burden than advantage for Spain. Gold has not been able to find and around 1512 was considered to withdraw on Cuba.

The first Spanish settlers came in 1510. One founded a settlement Sevilla la Nueva, near Saint Ann's Bay. Here a city had to appear with important buildings, a fort, a castle and a church. The location, near marshes, turned out very unhealthy and it left these 14 years later to found a city on the South side of the island. This city was Villa de la Vega (also known as (St. Jago de la Vega), the current Spanish Town. This Spanish city has, according to the description of an English captain who sacked her in 1628, consist of 400 to 500 houses, 5 or 6 stately churches and a Franciscan monastery. Of these construction works is in the present time virtually nothing remaining.

In addition to the capital Santiago de la Vega founded one in coastal areas some other settlements: Caguaya (the current Passage Fort), Esquivel (Old Harbour), Oristan (Bluefields), Las Chorreras (near Ocho Rios),Savanna-la-Mar and Puerto Anton (Port Antonio). In the coastal plains appeared large extensive agricultural holdings (hatos). The Spaniards introduced the citrus fruits, bananas, cattle, horses and pigs.

Jamaica was in the Spanish time especially important for supplying the Spanish colonisers of Cuba and America. The island earned but arms, troops and horses things like fat, hides and food to passing ships. Jamaica saw these ships for wine, oil, flour and luxury goods.

The native population was treated by the Spanish conquerors little human. The Arawaks were exterminated as a whole. To get to workmen took out Spain the first slaves to Jamaica in 1517.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Under the Spaniards settled the island for part of its own business. The Spanish Governor ruled with help of the cabildo, a Council consisting of designated persons. The Church also played an important role in everyday life. In the last twelve years under Spanish rule was the Island Administration weakened by infighting, argue with the Church and the low support from the motherland. Also the Spanish Jamaica much affected by attacks and looting by pirates. Were to a large extent this reflected the national rivalries in Europe between Spain, England, France, Netherlands and Portugal. This eventually led the island on 10 may 1655 fell into the hands of the English. ==British rule<span class="mw-editsection" len="353" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == Jamaica in 1671. Plantations and settlements are located mainly on the coastal plains in the South and East, at St. Mary and at Black River<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">As part of a plan (The Western Design) in order to limit Spanish power and trade monopolies, sent the then dictatorial ruler of England, Oliver Cromwell, an expeditionary force on path with the intention of the Spanish colony of Santo Domingo (Hispaniola) to conquer. In the port of the capital Santo Domingo suffered a painful defeat, which one had to pay with the loss of a third of the men. Then set course for the weak and thinly populated Jamaica. On 10 may 1655 went the remainder of the British fleet, consisting of 38 ships and 8,000 men, under the leadership of Admiral William Penn and General Robert Venables at anchor at the small fort in Caguaya, the current Passage Fort.One rees the English flag on the fort and this was actually a long way to Cromwell's ambitious plan to tackle Spain.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The Spaniards knew the English to move to delay, a period by the inhabitants of Villa de la Vega (Spanish Town) was used to with all their possessions to the North of Jamaica, and then to Cuba, to flee. When the English entered the whole empty city one was there so furious about that one the city has largely destroyed. The Spaniards hoped ever to come back and let their slaves, bear arms, in the back of the Interior. The descendants of these slaves, the Maroons, the British settlers still have tricky made a ceasefire Treaty on 1 March 1739.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The Spaniards tried to recapture the island have fled, but are finally defeated on 27 June 1658 on the North coast at the Rio Nuevo. On this place East of Ocho Rios is now a monument. In 1670 the British about the authority of Jamaica was formally recognized in the Treaty of Madrid.

Kingston ca. 1890<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In 1661, a year after the restoration of the British monarchy, arrived the first Governor on the island. Under the British authority were planters, merchants and traders encouraged to establish themselves on Jamaica. A public administration and courts were set up. Jamaica grew as a result, at the beginning of the 18th century into a relatively wealthy colony. The island's economy was based on the booming sugar industry. Also animal husbandry, tea cultures and logging were important sources of income.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">After the Maroons of Trelawny Town the Second Maroon War (1795-1796) had lost to the English, they were exiled to Nova Scotia (Canada) in 1800, from which they are repatriated to Freetown in present-day Sierra Leone, West Africa. There they are merged into the Creole population group now known as the Krio community.

Sugar cane cutters in Jamaica in the 80s of the 19th century<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The colonial Government gradually left Spanish Town and moved to Kingston, a British city with one of the largest natural harbours in the world. Kingston soon became the largest commercial centre of the island. It was also the place where the second America's English-language newspaper was published, the Weekly Jamaica Courant. In 1872 Kingston became the new capital of Jamaica. ==Independent Jamaica<span class="mw-editsection" len="352" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The British Government has tried to unite the British Islands in the Caribbean. On 3 January 1958 saw the Federation of the West Indies the light, with Port of Spain onTrinidad as federal capital. By infighting and conflicting interests this Federation was short-lived. On september 19, 1961, the Jamaicans in a referendum in favour of leaving the Federation. After that, the Jamaican Government started negotiations with the aim of full independence with the status of dominion.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">On 6 August 1962 Jamaica gained independence. Sir Alexander Bustamante became Prime Minister. The first Jamaican Governor-General, the representative of the British Crown, was appointed on 1 december of that year. It was decided not to change the coat of arms of Jamaica, but only to change the original Latin text in the new Out of Many, One People. ===The Buccaneers<span class="mw-editsection" len="344" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === Port Royal before the earthquake of 1692<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Jamaica forms a remarkable given in the history of the Buccaneers. These pirates operated mainly in the second half of the 17th century from their base in Port Royal. The original Buccaneers consisted of many nationalities, but especially English, French and Dutch. They foraged the inhospitable Northern and Western parts of Hispaniola for wild and feral, escaped bovine animals and swine. Later, one has to also focus on piracy. The Spanish have them around 1630 in 1657 and zones of Hispaniola dislodged them down in Port Royal. Here they found a market for their of the Spaniards looted booty, facilities for their ships and entertainment. The French and the English for the Buccaneers saw documents that made their activities more or less legal. Against the Dutch were the incalculable Buccaneers little successful, but they proved their worth against the Spanish. These were thereby busy defending their possessions. From 1667 Henry Morgan was their leader. This kept the pirates fought together as a group and with the permission of the Governor against the Spaniards. In 1671 she plundered the then important and wealthy Panama City and they came with a huge booty, including 600 prisoners, back in an exuberant Port Royal. But this time Morgan was gone too far. The Treaty of Madrid was signed a year earlier and to Spain for the sake to be sent as a prisoner to London was Morgan. However, soon he was knighted and Morgan returned as Lieutenant-Governor of Jamaica.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The highlight of the Buccaneers was then over. The end came with the earthquake of 7 June 1692. Their home to Port Royal, a rich and lively city with 8000 inhabitants, was hit hard and largely disappeared in the sea. The Government then decided on the other side of the Bay to found a new city, Kingston. ===Plantations and slavery<span class="mw-editsection" len="353" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In the colonial history of Jamaica and other islands in the Caribbean have the (sugarcane)plantations and slavery played a large role. The first European settlers have focused on crops that easy could be sold in Europe and North America such as tobacco, indigo and cocoa. From the 17th century they have focused primarily on the most profitable crop, sugarcane. For the production of this one had need for many workers, for which soon slaves from West Africa were employed.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">When the English conquered Jamaica on the Spaniards there were only some sugar cane plantations. The English were in 1640 in Barbados started the cultivation of sugar cane and that was in a short time become a great success. By the conquest of Jamaica came a field 26 times the size of Barbados for the English settlers available. Many plantations were set up in Jamaica and that led to Jamaica in the 18th century was the largest producer of sugar in the world.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The great economic importance of Jamaica and the other English possessions in the Caribbean (the West Indies) translated into the political influence of this region on the English government. That was greater than that of the 13 North American colonies. The independence of these 13 colonies is partly attributed to the fact that they found were less important than the British possessions in the West Indies. The plantation economy came in a crisis during the war of independence in the United States. It was feared for unrest among the large majority of slaves. In addition, the plantation economy was closely linked to the colonies in North America: it was a market for products imported from Jamaica and one things like corn and grain, salted and dried fish for the slaves. This saltfish is still a well-known food on the island.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The planters, the owners of the plantations, were very prosperous. They built large houses, the 'Great Houses, on beautiful locations on the island, where one his wealth has. The ambition of most owners, however, was not to stay in Jamaica, but with the amassed fortune in England a large life. One was a so-called absentee owner (absentee owner). Daily business was left to a supervisor, usually a young family member. It differs substantially from that of the British colonization the Spanish or Portuguese colonization in the region. Spaniards and Portuguese remained in the colonies and built a country that in many ways (including institutions, religion, urban development) appeared on the main country in Europe.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The downside to this charming life of the planters, of course, was the life of the slaves on the plantations active. The work on the plantations were largely carried out by hand and before that many workers were needed.The Spaniards used already slaves from West Africa, when it was the indigenous Arawaks had wiped out largely by slave labor. Because of the strong growth in the number of plantations in the British time there are large numbers of West African slaves transported to Jamaica. This transport was known as the Middle Passage, the middle part of a tour in three parts that made a slave trader. The first part claimed him from Europe to Africa, the last part brought him, laden with sugar and rum back to England.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In the early years of slavery on the plantations were the conditions very hard. Under the then applicable laws, the Slave Code could virtually an owner could do whatever he wanted with his slaves. Gradually something more humane laws. But the fleeing of slaves and rebellions were frequent. The measures that were taken here against were heavy. The colonial Government believed that one only with terror, severe penalties and strict discipline could stop the slaves of rebellions and attacks against the small minority of planters.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">By the presence of a lot of land that was not fit for the plantations had the slaves in Jamaica often use of plots where one could grow food in his own time. The surpluses were on Sunday morning sold on local markets.These were also meeting points, just as the night meetings after work, when one stay outside the slaves sang, danced and told each other Anansiverhalen . ===The end of slavery<span class="mw-editsection" len="357" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Starting from the second half of the 18th century, slave rebellions all becoming more common. In the French colony Saint-Domingue on the neighboring island of Hispaniola demanded the mulattos, inspired by theFrench Revolution, full citizen rights, which they also obtained in 1790. This led to revolt among the black population, which had obtained these rights are not. Plantations were destroyed and burned, and about 12,000 people were killed. The independent State of Haiti In 1804 was a fact.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The uprising in Saint-Domingue had a great effect on the neighbouring Jamaica. There arrived with the various refugees, plantation owners stayed loyal to their slaves and French prisoners of war on Jamaica. The news about what is going on there had played was scattered across the island. The first great rebellion broke out in 1795 under the Maroons in Trelawny Town, probably set up by persons, submitted by Saint-Domingue. This rebellion and the subsequent tumultuous period is known as the second Maroonoorlog. There was a lot of unrest on the island: an attempt to Kingston on fire was averted, but shortly thereafter in a slave rebellion aMontego Bay much of the town burned down. After initial successes by the maroons, they were forced to surrender a year later. The Maroons of Trelawny Town were deported to Nova Scotia. In the cold there they could not earths and in 1800 they were transferred to Sierra Leone, where their descendants are still living.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Under the influence of the Enlightenment and the French Revolution came originally from England an increasingly fierce debate about slavery. On 1 January 1808, a law was passed that forbade the trade in African slaves. The slave trade, however, remained continue, because in other countries was not yet banned the slave trade. This led to smuggling of slaves to the island. The discussions in the motherland over the abolition of slavery also reached Jamaica. This led to various slave rebellions. One of the largest in the history of Jamaica rebellions broke out in Saint James with Christmas in 1831 and was led by Sam Sharpe, a slave andpreacher Baptistisch . This spread over much of the island. This rebellion is put down and Sharpe was hanged on the main square in Montego Bay, that later was named after him. Sam Sharpe is now one of Jamaica's national heroes.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The planters used the uprising to plead in the motherland against abolition of slavery. However, the British Parliament began losing patience with the Jamaican planters. In addition, it was their sugar more expensive than cane sugar from Cuba or Brazil and e.g. beet sugar from Europe. The high sugar prices in Great Britain and the pleas in newspapers against slavery led to petitions to Parliament by nearly one and a half million signatures are supported. As a result of all this came a law in July 1833, the Emancipation Act, which gave the slaves their freedom on 1 January 1834.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">There was, however, a transition period in this law. Children up to 6 years were completely free, other slaves were still 4 to 6 years stay in the service of their boss. Eventually about 311.000 former slaves on 1 August 1838 free citizens. ===Emergence of a new Jamaica<span class="mw-editsection" len="361" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">After the abolition of slavery, there was need for new workers for work on the plantations. This created a migration wave of people from different parts of the world. First there were workers from Germany, Ireland andScotland met. A large part of these people was not resistant to work on the plantations and died. Many were looking for other work on the island or left Jamaica again. More successful were the larger groups of workers who came from China and India . Also, there are about 7,500 people migrated from Africa to Jamaica as a contract worker. All these groups were basically contracted for a limited period, after which there would be a free trip back. In reality are only few returned, and remained virtually everyone on the island behind. In 1917 came there end to this immigration.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The sharp drop in sugar prices and the fact that the plantations now had to pay salary to the plantation workers caused the plantation economy afbrokkelde. They tried new crops such as cotton, tea, tobacco, cocoa andRice. This was ultimately unsuccessful. Through it all, the economic situation in the whole island was getting worse. The discontent among the poor black population, who possessed little ground, grew while there was a lot of good on the plantations sector. Requests for improvement in their situation were not honored. In October 1865 came this discontent erupted with the rebellion in Morant Bay, known as the Morant Bay Rebellion, led by the Baptist preacher Paul Bogle. This initially local rebellion grew into a large-scale opposition to the British rule of the island.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">After crushing the rebellion in Morant Bay Jamaica much changed business on. The island administration and the judicial system were reformed, the police was modernized, the Anglican Church was no longer funded by the Government, there were savings banks opened and health and education were offered throughout the island. Roads and railways were laid out and in Kingston appeared trams in the streets.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">From 1870 on the export of bananas came strong. this plant could be grown by small farmers as well as on plantations. Especially the areas along the North coast at Port Antonio proved to be highly suitable for the cultivation of bananas. Banana production quickly spread to other parts of the island. Port Antonio became an important port for the United States and Europe to enter the banana boats. The Banana boat song by Harry Belafonte is inspired. The producers of bananas in 1929 were the first to United in a joint context: the Jamaica Banana Producers Association. The banana industry is virtually collapsed several times, but kept coming back. Causes include pests and diseases, and the fact that hurricanes and tropical storms very large havoc. The cultivation of sugar cane, however, recovered. Plantations were bigger and more modern. There were also a few large sugar mills anddistilleries of rum. In the last century, the peaks in the banana industry often correspond to a valley in the sugar and vice versa.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">From the end of the nineteenth century also began the migration of Jamaicans abroad. The first groups went to Panama to help build the Panama Canal. Jamaicans also went to the Caribbean coastal areas ofHonduras and Costa Rica to work in the emerging banana industry there. A destination for more skilled migrants were places in the northeastern United States as Boston, the destination of the banana boats, New York,New Jersey, Baltimore and Philadelphia. In the fifties of the twentieth century, approximately 200,000 people migrated to Great Britain.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">By a growing self-awareness under the (black) population, and later also by the effects of the global economic crisis, there arose in the years before the Second World War a growing discontent among the working class.The first major trade unions and political parties emerged: the Industrial Trade Union of Sir Alexander Bustamante, linked to the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and the National Workers ' Union led by his cousin Norman Manley, connected with the people's National Party (PNP).