Historical Events in Jamaica

by Jack Thompson
(California,USA)

Historical Events in Jamaica

Question:

What is a historical event in Jamaican history?

---

Answer: Feb-13-2009 by Wellesley Gayle

Hi Jack,

Thanks for the question.

We have quite a few notable events in Jamaica's history.

Here is a quick summary by key dates leading up to Independence in 1962.

• 1494- Christopher Columbus discovered the island.
  
  
• 1509- The Spaniards occupied the country and remained in possession for 146 years.
  
  
• 1655- The English captured the island from the Spaniards and colonized the territory.
  
  
• 1692- Port Royal, which had become the focal point of the pirates plundering the Caribbean and Central America, was destroyed by earthquake and Kingston became subsequently the chief city and port.
  
  
• 1838- Slaves were emancipated and the economy foundered due to the crisis on the plantations.
  
  
• 1848- Britain’s free trade policy led to a further deterioration in the Jamaican economy because sugar protection was lifted and Jamaican sugar was in competition with cheaper sugar from elsewhere.
  
  
• 1865- The Morant Bay Rebellion broke out after prolonged disputes between the planters and the settlers.
  
  
• 1866- Crown Colony Government replaced the old system of representative government.
  
  
• 1870- An export trade in bananas replaced the predominance of sugar and restored the island’s economy.
  
  
• 1944- Universal adult suffrage was introduced under the new Constitution and proved to be the first step in the gradual move toward independence.
  
  
• 1953- A full ministerial system was established.
  
  
• 1958- Jamaica joined the federation of the West Indies, which was an association of 10 British Island territories in which Jamaica and Trinidad were the largest.
  
  
• 1959- The country was granted full internal self-government.
  
  
• 1961- Jamaica voted in a Referendum to secede from the Federation of the West Indies and to achieve Independence.
  
  
• 1962- The Federation was dissolved and Jamaica became independent on August 6th.
  

Here's the full story on the history of Jamaica.