Facts About The Amazing History Of Jamaica

Jamaica’s history is indeed a vibrant and rich on. It actually speaks to experiences of both hardships and prosperity. Most of all, it speaks about the growth as well as the determination of people.

Interesting Facts About Jamaica’s History

Jamaica was inhabited by Arawak Indians when Christian Columbus explored it in 1494. He claimed it for Spain and named it “St. Iago”. In 1965, the Spanish were evicted forcibly by the British at Ocho Rios. Buccaneers operated from Port Royal (the capital) until it fell into the sea in 1692 during an earthquake.

Lots of West Africans have fled into the mountains when the English has captured Jamaica to live with the Tainos. Later, they became known as the Jamaican Maroons.

Did you know that Jamaica became the leading sugar-producing nation in the world? This happened during the first 200 years of British rule.

Have you heard about the Christmas Rebellion of 1831-32? This was a 10-day revolt, which was led by Samuel Sharpe, a preacher. This was considered the largest slave uprising in the British West Indies. About 60,000 slaves demanded freedom along with a working wage of half the going rate. It was later suppressed by the British forces. About 500 slaves were killed then.

In 1985, another rebellion happened. This was the Morant Bay Rebellion, which involved about 300 Jamaicans wanting the right to vote along with an improvement in their economic and social standards. Again, the rebellion was brutally smashed by the British forces, with 793 Jamaicans killed and more than 600 flogged.

It was only in 1944 that the first general election took place, along with a new constitution and elected House of Representative. Jamaica also became a part of the 1958 Federation of the West Indies, which was a union of all British colonies in the Caribbean, before gaining its independence in 1962.

In February 1962, the constitution of Jamaica was drafted and implemented. The country became independent on August 6, 1962, with Alexander Bustamante as Prime Minister.

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