Colonial Jamaica and the British Empire

Colonial Jamaica and the British Empire

1566

Jmaica

Jamaica's geographical position was key for threatening the Spanish America's colonies

Independence

The British rule ended after almost 350 years

Gained independece on August 6, 1962

Became a Common Wealth member

Kept the queen as head of state

Sir William Alexander Clarke Bustamante, first prime minister of Jamaica, 1962-1967

Port Royal and Kingston Harbour, Jamaica, 1782

Jamaica was captured from the Spanish by the British on May 10, 1566

By 1570 the Spanish had been completely expelled

Former slaves who scaped called Maroons lived in the wild and attacked the British settlements

CUlture

Was influenced by the British colonists' culture

African traditions due to slavery, seen in cuisine

British traditions are seen more in Public institutionsPorts were popular for buccaneers and trading, many cultures mixed

Economy

Kingston Harbour, Jamaica, B.W.I., 1908

Slave trade monopoly to American Spanish colonies and the island itself, free labour"Center of operations" in the Americas for the Royal African CompanySlave plantations, biggest exports were sugar and coffeeBuccaneer's heaven, safe business

Politics

Sir Henry Moore, 1st Baronet was the first British governor Jamaica was ruled by a British governor selected by the monarchThe goverment was made up entirely by Europeans, mostly noblesBuccaneers were powerful and rich, Henry Morgan even became governor

Sir Hugh Mackintosh Foot, Governor of Jamaica, 1951-1957

Society

Biggest slave market of the CaribbeanSlaves represented more than half the populationMaroons seeked revenge with guerilla tacticsBuccaneers were extremely wealthy and influential

Politics

UK: England, Scotland, Wales and IrelandConstitutional monarchyParliament, House of commons, and House of Lords restricted the monarch's power and took most desicions Queen Elizabeth II, last British monarch to "rule" Jamaica

Nobility and monarchy, power and respectIndustrial revolution made the UK advanced in technology and science and increase populationStrong militaryStrong class divisions

Society

Culture

Maritime culture Land of great thinkers and inventorsRace superiority, anyone who wasn't european was inferiorGreat literacy rateGreat military history Influence of German culture

Economy

Global powerColonial companies, Royal African Company monopolized slave tradeTrade of colonial goods, spices, minerals, spices to the European marketIndustrialization

Reasons for colonization and type of colony

Its located in the middle of the caribbean surrounded by mainly Spanish colonies, it was strategical to attack and trade with other colonies

Jamaica was a dependent colony, it was ruled by a British governor appointed by the monarch