History Page

The Arawak Indians were the first people to arrive to Jamaica before the common era. They were ill prepared to absorb the impact of the Spanish under Christopher Columbus. On May 4, 1494 the first ettlement was established at Seville Nueva near St Ann's Bay, but later moved to what today is known as Spanish town. It became their capital. When the English force of 5,000 men invaded the island in 1655 they offered little resistence and in a few years abandoned the colony. The 18th century saw the reign of "king Sugar". Cane fields dominated the plains while hillside sloped palatial residences like Rose Hall near Montego Bay were built. Jamaica became a trans-shipment center for other colonies in the America's In the Vast Mountains lived fierce runaway slaves called Maroons. In as sense, modern Jamaica society began in 1838. The newly freed slaves rapidly deserted the plantations and established themselves as free settlers in the hills, forming hard-working, independent peasentry which is still regarded at the backbone of Jamaica. Since the turn of the century, sugar, banana, citrus and coffee had become the main crops for export. Beggining in the 1950's the mining of alumina and bauxite-the rawof aluminum- have become major contributors to the economy along with tourism. For 300 years as a British colony, Jamaica had a stormy political life. with House of Assembly. But all real decisions affecting the country were made in England, and a vast majority of the people had neither say or representation in national life. Jamaica became an independent country in 1962 and still remains a mamber of the British commonwealth of nations. The island has its own Constitution, based on inheritage British legal, religious, educational and political traditions. Jamaica is a parliamentary democracy with an elected House of Representitives. and nominated Upper House or Senate. There is a well established two party system and vigorously contested elections arenormally held every five years. All Jamaicans over the age of 18 are eligible to vote.