After the Caribbean was first colonised by Spain in the 15th century, a system of sugar planting and enslavement evolved. David Lambert explores how this system changed the region, and how enslaved people continued to resist colonial rule.
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Which countries colonized the Caribbean?
The four main colonial powers in the Caribbean were the Spanish, English, Dutch, and French. Other countries that held possession of various islands at different times were Portugal, Sweden, and Denmark.
What Caribbean countries were colonized by the British?
The British West Indies (BWI) were the British territories in the West Indies: Anguilla, the Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands, Montserrat, the British Virgin Islands, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,
Was the Caribbean colonized by France?
France formally ceded possession of Dominica to Great Britain in 1763. Great Britain established a small colony on the island in 1805.
History.
| Name | La Désirade |
|---|---|
| Largest settlement | Beauséjour |
| Land area (km2) | 21 |
| Population density (inh. per km2) | 69 |
| Status | Forms a part of the Guadeloupe region. |
Who were the first British in the Caribbean?
The first Carribean islands to be settled by the British were St Kitts (1623/4) in the north-east and Barbados (1627) in the south-east corner of the Caribbean Basin. When this island filled up, English-speakers left for other locations, especially for Jamaica after it was taken by the British from the Spanish in 1660.
Why did Britain colonize the Caribbean?
The Europeans came to the Caribbean in search of wealth.After unsuccessful experiments with growing tobacco, the English colonists tried growing sugarcane in the Caribbean. This was not a local plant, but it grew well after its introduction. Sugarcane could be used to make various products.
Who owns Caribbean islands?
Countries and territories
| Country or territory | Sovereignty | Population (2018 est.) |
|---|---|---|
| United States Virgin Islands | United States | 104,680 |
| British Virgin Islands | United Kingdom | 29,802 |
| Anguilla | United Kingdom | 14,731 |
| Cayman Islands | United Kingdom | 64,174 |
Is Barbados a British colony?
Now Barbados, the former British colony, is on the eve of taking a momentous step. At midnight tomorrow it will remove the Queen as its head of state and declare itself a republic. The country became independent in 1966 and this is seen as the final step in cutting ties with its colonial past.
Was Jamaica a British colony?
Jamaica was an English colony from 1655 (when it was captured by the English from Spain), and a British Colony from 1707 until 1962, when it became independent. Jamaica became a Crown colony in 1866.
Is Trinidad a British colony?
Trinidad was formally ceded to Britain in 1802.Its development as a sugar colony began when it was ceded to Britain in 1763 and continued throughout the period from 1763 to 1814, during which time Tobago changed hands between Britain and France several times.
Where is Guadalupe in the Caribbean?
Guadeloupe is an archipelago of more than 12 islands, as well as islets and rocks situated where the northeastern Caribbean Sea meets the western Atlantic Ocean. It is located in the Leeward Islands in the northern part of the Lesser Antilles, a partly volcanic island arc.
Is Guadeloupe owned by France?
Since 1974 Guadeloupe has had the status of a full région of France. The territory of Guadeloupe is divided into two arrondissements (Basse-Terre and Pointe-à-Pitre), which are in turn divided into cantons and communes, each administered by an elected municipal council.
When did Britain colonize the Caribbean?
British West Indian colonisation began with Saint Kitts in 1623 and Barbados in 1627. The former was used as a base for British colonisation of neighbouring Nevis (1628), Antigua (1632), Montserrat (1632), Anguilla (1650) and Tortola (1672).
Who introduced slavery in the Caribbean?
Between 1662 and 1807 Britain shipped 3.1 million Africans across the Atlantic Ocean in the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Africans were forcibly brought to British owned colonies in the Caribbean and sold as slaves to work on plantations.
Who first inhabited the Caribbean islands?
The Taíno were an Arawak people who were the indigenous people of the Caribbean and Florida. At the time of European contact in the late 15th century, they were the principal inhabitants of most of Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola (the Dominican Republic and Haiti), and Puerto Rico.
Who first discovered the Caribbean islands?
explorer Christopher Columbus
On October 12, 1492, Italian explorer Christopher Columbus made landfall in what is now the Bahamas. Columbus and his ships landed on an island that the native Lucayan people called Guanahani.
How many colonies did Britain have in the Caribbean?
Britain is responsible for the defence, security and diplomatic relations of five territories in the Caribbean. These territories are the Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Montserrat and Turks and Caicos Islands.
Why did the British came to Jamaica?
Jamaica was important to Britain because of its production of sugar, which was the leading commodity imported into Britain at the time.Enslaved people were bought and sold as property and most of them were put to work on plantations, such as the sugar plantations of Jamaica.
What did the British bring to Jamaica?
British Colonization brought the trans-Atlantic slave trade, and with it came West African cuisine. This includes classics like jerk sauce, which traces its roots to West African jerk pork. It’s also the source of the famous ackee fruit, which is a part of Jamaica’s national dish, Ackee and Saltfish.
Who owns Antigua?
Antigua and Barbuda became an independent nation in 1981, but it is still British in many of its traditions.
What are the 7 Caribbean islands?
The Caribbean Islands
- Greater Antilles. the most-visited region in the Caribbean.
- Haiti. Port-au-Prince, capital city of Haiti.
- Leeward Islands. the northern islands of the Lesser Antilles chain.
- Guadeloupe. Basse-Terre, capital city of Guadeloupe.
- Saint Barthélemy.
- Sint Eustatius.
- Windward Islands.
- Martinique.
