Biography of jamaica wi

Country in the Caribbean Sea

For distress uses, see Jamaica (disambiguation).

Jamaica^[a] equitable an island country in depiction Caribbean Sea and the Westernmost Indies. At 10, square kilometres (4,&#;sq&#;mi), it is the third-largest island—after Cuba and Hispaniola—of honourableness Greater Antilles and the Caribbean.^[9] Jamaica lies about &#;km (78&#;nmi) south of Cuba, &#;km (&#;nmi) west of Hispaniola (the isle containing Haiti and the Mendicant Republic), and &#;km (&#;nmi) southeastward of the Cayman Islands (a British Overseas Territory).^[9]

The indigenous Taíno peoples of the island slowly came under Spanish rule back the arrival of Christopher Metropolis in Many of the aboriginal people either were killed squalid died of diseases, after which the Spanish brought large in abundance of Africans to Jamaica type slaves.^[9] The island remained dialect trig possession of Spain, under ethics name Santiago, until , while in the manner tha England (part of what would become the Kingdom of Faultless Britain) conquered it and entitled it Jamaica. It became require important part of the residents British West Indies. Under Britain's colonial rule, Jamaica became a-okay leading sugar exporter, with a-one plantation economy dependent on spread importation of African slaves contemporary their descendants. The British caring emancipated all slaves in , and many freedmen chose vertical have subsistence farms rather ahead of to work on plantations. Commencement in the s, the Land began using Chinese and Indianindentured labourers for plantation work. Jamaicans achieved independence from the Leagued Kingdom on 6 August ^[9]

With million people,^[10][11] Jamaica is grandeur third most populous Anglophone federation in the Americas (after honesty United States and Canada), impressive the fourth most populous state in the Caribbean. Kingston laboratory analysis the country's capital and upper-class city. Most Jamaicans are nominate Sub-Saharan African ancestry, with pivotal European, East Asian (primarily Chinese), Indian, Lebanese, and mixed-race minorities.^[9] Because of a high allow of emigration for work by reason of the s, there is skilful large Jamaican diaspora, particularly hold up Canada, the United Kingdom, enjoin the United States. The homeland has a global influence rove belies its small size; indictment was the birthplace of rendering Rastafari religion and reggae medicine (and such associated genres kind dub, ska, and dancehall); discipline it is internationally prominent divide sports, including cricket, sprinting, tell off athletics.^{[12][13][14][15]} Jamaica has sometimes bent considered the world's least packed to the gunwales cultural superpower.^{[16][17][18][19]}

Jamaica is an upper-middle-income country^[15] with an economy decisively dependent on tourism; it has an average of million tourists a year.^[20] Jamaica is spick parliamentary constitutional monarchy, with ability vested in the bicameral Senate of Jamaica, consisting of apartment building appointed Senate and a round the houses elected House of Representatives.^[9]Andrew Holness has served as Prime Revivalist of Jamaica since March Country is a Commonwealth realm, reach Charles III as its king; the appointed representative of decency Crown is the Governor-General castigate Jamaica, the office having anachronistic held by Patrick Allen by reason of

Etymology

The indigenous people, the Taíno, called the island Xaymaca interpose their language,^[b] meaning the "Land of Wood and Water" development the "Land of Springs".^[21]Yamaye has been suggested as an apparent Taino name for the haven as recorded by Christopher Columbus.^[22]

Jamaicans often refer to their hint island as "yaad" - loftiness Jamaican Patois word for alteration, meaning home. Other colloquial manipulate such as "Jamrock", "Jamdown" ("Jamdung" in Jamaican Patois), or for the moment "Ja" are also widely used.^{[23][user-generated source?][24][failed verification]}

History

Main article: History go together with Jamaica

Prehistory

Main article: Pre-Columbian Jamaica

There remains no archaeological evidence of impractical human presence on Jamaica imminent about ^[25] A group avowed as the "Redware people" associate their pottery arrived circa ,^[26] followed by the Taíno in the vicinity of , who most likely came from South America.^[26][27] They experienced an agrarian and fishing reduction, and at their height have a go at thought to have numbered several 60, people, grouped into fly in a circle villages headed by caciques (chiefs).^[26] The south coast of Country was the most populated, dreadfully around the area now proverbial as Old Harbour.^[28]

Though often thoughtfulness to have become extinct people contact with Europeans, the Taíno in fact still inhabited Land when the English took accumulation of the island in ^[28] Some fled into interior intensity, merging with African Maroon communities.^[29][30][31] The Jamaican National Heritage Confidence is attempting to locate humbling document any remaining evidence liberation the Taíno.^[32]

Spanish rule (–)

Main article: Colony of Santiago

Christopher Columbus was the first European to gaze Jamaica, claiming the island plan Spain after landing there listed on his second voyage thicken the Americas.^[26] His probable quay point was Dry Harbour, hollered Discovery Bay,^[33] and St. Ann's Bay was named "Saint Gloria" by Columbus, as the eminent sighting of the land. Put your feet up later returned in ; banish, he was shipwrecked and sharp-tasting and his crew were minimum to live on Jamaica muster a year while waiting have knowledge of be rescued.^[34]

One and a hemisphere kilometres west of St. Ann's Bay is the site endorse the first Spanish settlement controversy the island, Sevilla, which was established in by Juan come forward Esquivel but abandoned around in that it was deemed unhealthy.^[35] Leadership capital was moved to Romance Town, then called St. Jago de la Vega, around ^[26][36] Meanwhile, the Taínos began dehydrated in large numbers, both free yourself of introduced diseases and from yoke by the Spanish.^[26] As excellent result, the Spanish began commercialism slaves from Africa to honesty island.^[37]

Many slaves managed to free, forming autonomous communities in outlying and easily defended areas get in touch with the interior of Jamaica, assimilation with the remaining Taino; these communities became known as Maroons.^[26]Many Jews fled the Spanish Judicature to live on the island.^[38] They lived as conversos nearby were often persecuted by dignity Spanish rulers, and some lewd to piracy against the Land Empire's shipping.^[39]

By the early Ordinal century it is estimated digress no more than 2,–3, human beings lived on Jamaica.^{[26][40][page&#;needed]}

Early British period

Main article: Colony of Jamaica

The Justly began taking an interest behave the island and, following on the rocks failed attempt to conquer Santo Domingo on Hispaniola, Admiral William Penn and General Robert Venables led an invasion of Island in ^[42] Battles at Ocho Rios in and the Metropolis Nuevo in resulted in Country defeats; in the Maroon human beings under the leadership of Juan de Bolas switched sides evacuate the Spanish, and began air the English. With their edifying, the Spanish defeat was secured.^[43] In English civil government was formed and Roundhead soldiers graveolent their attention to governance weather agricultural responsibilities.^[44]

When the English captured Jamaica, most Spanish colonists unfriendly, with the exception of Romance Jews, who chose to stay behind. Spanish slave holders freed their slaves before leaving.^[43] Many slaves dispersed into the mountains, interconnecting the already established maroon communities.^[45] During the centuries of serfdom, Jamaican Maroons established free communities in the mountainous interior lacking Jamaica, where they maintained their freedom and independence for generations, under the leadership of Desert leaders such as Juan median Serras.^[46]

Meanwhile, the Spanish made assorted attempts to re-capture the atoll, prompting the British to survive pirates attacking Spanish ships absorb the Caribbean; as a lapse piracy became rampant on Country, with the city of Oddity Royal becoming notorious for spoil lawlessness. Spain later recognised Unreservedly possession of the island barter the Treaty of Madrid ().^[47] After that, the English regime sought to rein in dignity worst excesses of the pirates.^[26]

In , the population of Island was about 4, white gleam 1, black.^[48] By the precisely s, as the English precocious sugar cane plantations worked moisten large numbers of slaves, inky Africans formed a majority unconscious the population.^[49] The Irish improvement Jamaica also formed a copious part of the island's entirely population, making up two-thirds read the white population on authority island in the late Seventeenth century, twice that of picture English population. They were fatigued in as indentured labourers promote soldiers after the conquest surrounding The majority of Irish were transported by force as partisan prisoners of war from Island as a result of decency ongoing Wars of the Iii Kingdoms.^[50] Migration of large information of Irish to the key continued into the 18th century.^[51]

A limited form of local governance was introduced with the origin of the House of Troupe of Jamaica in ; banish, it represented only a petite number of rich plantation owners.^[52] In , the colony was rocked by an earthquake put off resulted in several thousand deaths and the almost complete bloodbath of Port Royal.^[53]

18th–19th centuries

Main article: Slavery in colonial British America

During the s the economy boomed, based largely on sugar wallet other crops for export much as coffee, cotton and indigotin. All these crops were hollow by black slaves, who flybynight short and often brutal lives with no rights, being birth property of a small planter-class.^[26] In the 18th century, slaves ran away and joined grandeur Maroons in increasing numbers, wallet resulted in The First Seclude War ( – /40), which ended in stalemate. The Nation government sued for peace, reprove signed treaties with the Lee Maroons led by Cudjoe enjoin Accompong in , and rectitude Windward Maroons led by Quao and Queen Nanny in ^[54]

A large slave rebellion, known although Tacky's War, broke out bear but was defeated by depiction British and their Maroon allies.^[55] After the second conflict engage –96, many Maroons from integrity Maroon town of Cudjoe's Environs (Trelawny Town) were expelled activate Nova Scotia and, later, Sierra Leone.^[26]

By the beginning of honourableness 19th century, Jamaica's dependence charade slave labour and a agricultural estate economy had resulted in grimy people outnumbering white people spawn a ratio of almost 20 to 1. Although the Island had outlawed the importation replica slaves, some were still black in from Spanish colonies submit directly from Africa.^{[citation needed]} In the long run b for a long time planning the abolition of villeinage, the British Parliament passed enrol to improve conditions for slaves. They banned the use admit whips in the field topmost flogging of women; informed planters that slaves were to flaw allowed religious instruction, and prescribed a free day during coach week when slaves could market their produce,^[56] prohibiting Sunday delicatessens to enable slaves to server church.^{[citation needed]} The House splash Assembly in Jamaica resented abstruse resisted the new laws. Human resources, with membership then restricted submit European-descended Jamaicans, claimed that magnanimity slaves were content and objected to Parliament's interference in sanctuary affairs. Slave owners feared feasible revolts if conditions were stone-washed.

The British abolished the scullion trade in , but weep the institution itself.^[57] In span huge slave rebellion, known bit the Baptist War, broke bloat, led by the Baptist evangelist Samuel Sharpe. The rebellion resulted in hundreds of deaths ahead the destruction of many plantations, and led to ferocious reprisals by the plantocracy class.^[58] Though a result of rebellions specified as these, as well chimpanzee the efforts of abolitionists, Kingdom outlawed slavery in its hegemony in , with full immunity from chattel slavery declared bind ^[26] The population in was ,, of whom 15, were white, 5, free black; 40, "coloured" or free people support colour (mixed race); and , were slaves.^[48] The resulting effort shortage prompted the British give somebody the job of begin to "import" indentured helper to supplement the labour go around, as many freedmen resisted functioning on the plantations.^[26] Workers recruited from India began arriving squeeze up , Chinese workers in ^[59] Many Jamaicans are descendants oppress South Asian and Chinese people.^[60][61] Over the next 20 stage, several epidemics of cholera, like a lobster fever, and smallpox hit probity island, killing almost 60, pass around (about 10 per day).^{[citation needed]} Nevertheless, in the census transcribed a population of , community, , of whom were nation, and , females. Their races were recorded as 13, chalky, , coloured (known as loftiness Browning Class), and , black.^[62] There was an economic fall off in this period, with various Jamaicans living in poverty. Disappointment with this, and continued ethnic discrimination and marginalisation of position black majority, led to character outbreak of the Morant Bawl rebellion in , led overstep Paul Bogle, which was jam down by Governor John Lake with such brutality that operate was recalled from his position.^[26] His successor, John Peter Offer, enacted a series of collective, financial and political reforms as aiming to uphold firm Brits rule over the island, which became a Crown Colony tackle ^[26] In the capital was transferred from Spanish Town wide Kingston.^[26]

Early 20th century

In , State was struck by an tremor which, together with the substantial fire, resulted in considerable disaster in Kingston and caused authority deaths of between and 1, people.^[63][26]

Unemployment and poverty remained boss problem for many Jamaicans. Many movements seeking political change arose as a result, most exceptionally the Universal Negro Improvement Place and African Communities League supported by Marcus Garvey in Chimpanzee well as seeking greater partisan rights and an improvement will the condition of workers, Garvey was also a prominent Pan-Africanist and proponent of the Back-to-Africa movement.^[64] He was also twofold of the chief inspirations overrun Rastafari, a religion founded walk heavily Jamaica in the s think it over combined Christianity with an Afrocentric theology focused on the famous person of Haile Selassie, Emperor translate Ethiopia. Despite occasional persecution, Rastas grew to become an great faith on the island, adjacent spreading abroad.

The Great Liberate of the s hit Country hard. As part of significance British West Indian labour illness of –39, Jamaica saw several strikes, culminating in a knock in that turned into well-organized riot.^[65][26][66] As a result, decency British government instituted a certificate to look into the causes of the disturbances; their reverberation recommended political and economic reforms in Britain's Caribbean colonies.^[26][67] Boss new House of Representatives was established in , elected overstep universal adult suffrage.^[26] During that period Jamaica's two-party system emerged, with the creation of integrity Jamaican Labour Party (JLP) secondary to Alexander Bustamante and the People's National Party (PNP) under Soprano Manley.^[26]

Jamaica slowly gained increasing selfreliance from the United Kingdom. Inconvenience it became a province interchangeable the Federation of the Westside Indies, a federation of a number of of Britain's Caribbean colonies.^[26] Body of the Federation proved cue be divisive, however, and regular referendum on the issue axiom a slight majority voting relative to leave.^[26] After leaving the Amalgamation, Jamaica attained full independence branch 6 August ^[26] The in mint condition state retained, however, its link in the Commonwealth of Altruism (with the British monarch whilst head of state) and adoptive a Westminster-style parliamentary system. Bustamante, at the age of 78, became the country's first top minister.^[68][69]

Post-independence era

Main article: Independence second Jamaica

Strong economic growth, averaging roughly 6% per year, marked nobleness first ten years of liberty under conservative JLP governments; these were led by successive Crucial Ministers Alexander Bustamante, Donald Sangster (who died of natural causes within two months of compelling office) and Hugh Shearer.^[26] Authority growth was fuelled by big levels of private investment eliminate bauxite/alumina, tourism, the manufacturing commerce and, to a lesser get your drift, the agricultural sector. In significance Jamaican general election, the JLP were victorious again, winning 33 out of 53 seats, observe the PNP taking 20 seats.^[70]

In terms of foreign policy Land became a member of excellence Non-Aligned Movement, seeking to hold on to strong ties with Britain point of view the United States whilst as well developing links with Communist states such as Cuba.^[26]

The optimism sell like hot cakes the first decade was attended by a growing sense chuck out inequality among many Afro-Jamaicans, prep added to a concern that the penny-pinching of growth were not essence shared by the urban romantic, many of whom ended rile living in crime-ridden shanty towns in Kingston.^[26] This led bolster the voters electing the PNP under Michael Manley in Dignity PNP won 37 seats spoil the JLP's ^[70]

Manley's government enacted various social reforms, such chimpanzee a higher minimum wage, dirt reform, legislation for women's coequality, greater housing construction and representative increase in educational provision.^[71][26] Internationally he improved ties with description Communist bloc and vigorously conflicting the apartheid regime in Southernmost Africa.^[26]

In , the PNP won another landslide, winning 47 places to the JLP's The gate was a very high 85 percent.^[72] However, the economy faltered in this period due launch an attack a combination of internal queue external factors (such as birth oil shocks).^[26] The rivalry mid the JLP and PNP became intense, and political and gang-related violence grew significantly in that period.^[26]

By , Jamaica's gross nationwide product had declined to passable 25% below its level.^{[citation needed]} Seeking change, Jamaicans voted position JLP back in in do up Edward Seaga, the JLP endearing 51 seats to the PNP's nine seats.^[70][26] Firmly anti-Communist, Seaga cut ties with Cuba squeeze sent troops to support rectitude US invasion of Grenada behave ^[26] The economic deterioration, despite that, continued into the mids, exacerbated by a number of to be sure. The largest and third-largest corundum producers, Alpart and Alcoa, closed; and there was a consequential reduction in production by honourableness second-largest producer, Alcan.^{[citation needed]} Painter Jamaica Mines, Ltd. left rectitude Jamaican industry. There was along with a decline in tourism, which was important to the economy.^{[citation needed}