Jamaica Research Paper
The island of Jamaica is very rich in culture and has many historic turnabouts throughout the years. The country has a rich and complex history including being the first country to have Arawak and Taino Indians settle there.
The Arawak Indians of South America were the first people to settle in Jamaica the named the island Xaymaca meaning land of wood and water. Christopher Columbus’ first arrival was in 1494. Christopher Columbus’ son settled in Jamaica in 1509. During Spain’s occupation on the island beginning in 1510 the Arawaks were killed off by disease, war and slavery. Seven short years later the Spaniards brought the first African slaves to Jamaica. The king of Spain deeded the island to Columbus’ family in 1536 until the 1620’s Spain reclaimed the island.
The first European settlement was called Sevilla Nueva located near St. Ann’s Bay, the town was abandoned in 1538 and moved to Spanish Town. About 100 years later Great Britain stepped in and seized control of the island. The settlers from Great Britain moved to Villa de la Vega, now known as Spanish Town. Jamaica was the site of a lot of fierce uprisings, for years the Maroons; descendants of slaves freed by the Spanish in 1655 and runaway slaves form British rule fought against plantation owners and British forces. The largest revolt of them all occurred in 1831 when an initially peaceful protest against working on Christmas turned violent. The response convinced the British parliament to abolish slavery throughout the British Empire in 1834. Emancipation of the slaves took place in 1838 and the indentured labour from India and China.
Jamaica was granted freedom from the UK in 1947 then later in 1958 after years of violence and suffrage came the formation of two political parties, JLP (Jamaica Labour Party) led by Sir Alexander Bustamante and PNP (People’s National Party) led by Norman Manley.
Jamaica also joined the West Indies Federation; internal self-government was introduced in 1959. Jamaica
The Arawak Indians of South America were the first people to settle in Jamaica the named the island Xaymaca meaning land of wood and water. Christopher Columbus’ first arrival was in 1494. Christopher Columbus’ son settled in Jamaica in 1509. During Spain’s occupation on the island beginning in 1510 the Arawaks were killed off by disease, war and slavery. Seven short years later the Spaniards brought the first African slaves to Jamaica. The king of Spain deeded the island to Columbus’ family in 1536 until the 1620’s Spain reclaimed the island.
The first European settlement was called Sevilla Nueva located near St. Ann’s Bay, the town was abandoned in 1538 and moved to Spanish Town. About 100 years later Great Britain stepped in and seized control of the island. The settlers from Great Britain moved to Villa de la Vega, now known as Spanish Town. Jamaica was the site of a lot of fierce uprisings, for years the Maroons; descendants of slaves freed by the Spanish in 1655 and runaway slaves form British rule fought against plantation owners and British forces. The largest revolt of them all occurred in 1831 when an initially peaceful protest against working on Christmas turned violent. The response convinced the British parliament to abolish slavery throughout the British Empire in 1834. Emancipation of the slaves took place in 1838 and the indentured labour from India and China.
Jamaica was granted freedom from the UK in 1947 then later in 1958 after years of violence and suffrage came the formation of two political parties, JLP (Jamaica Labour Party) led by Sir Alexander Bustamante and PNP (People’s National Party) led by Norman Manley.
Jamaica also joined the West Indies Federation; internal self-government was introduced in 1959. Jamaica