| Today, Jamaica is one of most favorite | | | | political parties, and the labor unions |
| vacation destinations for many travelers. | | | | affiliated to them combined efforts in |
| Visitors are fascinated by the rich history, | | | | fighting for political independence from |
| unique culture and comfortable climate. A | | | | England. By 1962, Jamaica was granted |
| brief visit to the history of Jamaica is | | | | political independence.Political Independence |
| educational whether you plan to visit the | | | | |
| Island this year or in the future.Arawaks | | | | |
| Before the Arrival of Columbus | | | | After the political independence, Jamaica |
| | | | was governed by a prime minister, who is |
| The history of Jamaica started long before | | | | required to consult with the Governor General |
| the arrival of Columbus in 1494. Jamaica | | | | who was the representative of England. PNP |
| island was inhabited by Arawaks for hundreds | | | | and JLP are two major political parties in |
| of years or even more. They lived a simple | | | | Jamaica today. The PNP, the held political |
| life in small community based on fishing, | | | | office and initiated a shift in major |
| hunting, and small scale cultivation. The | | | | economic policies between 1972 and 1980. |
| arrival of Spanish led by Columbus opened the | | | | From 1980 to 1989, the JLP held political |
| door of the island to the world, but the | | | | office. With a special political relationship |
| economic activities also brought new diseases | | | | with the Reagan administration, Jamaica |
| that destroyed native Arawaks small | | | | benefited from generous USA assistance in the |
| communities in a few decades. The trace of | | | | first half of the decade. The prosperity of |
| early Arawaks life, today, can only be seen | | | | Jamaica was further fueled by the large |
| in a few artifacts-facts displayed at the | | | | volumes of emigrants started in the eighties |
| small museum at White Marl.The Spanish | | | | also saw , primarily to the USA.Jamaica Today |
| Occupation | | | | |
| | | | The size of 4,000 sq miles makes Jamaica the |
| Between 1494 and1655, the Spanish used | | | | third largest island in the Caribbean. The |
| Jamaica as a springboard for the conquest of | | | | capital of Jamaica Kingston is where most |
| the Americas. The island was occupied by of | | | | activities are centered. Jamaica, today, is |
| the Spanish settlement and their slaves. In | | | | one of most popular travel destinations for |
| 1655, it was captured by the British | | | | vacationers. People around the world flock |
| expedition led by Admirals Penn and Venables. | | | | to Jamaica for its weather, culture and |
| The influence of the Spanish settlement on | | | | entertainment, or just to spend a weekend in |
| the development of social, economic and | | | | luxury Jamaica Hotels. Jamaica is where you |
| political life of the island was | | | | can enjoy the different styles of home life |
| insignificant apart from remnants of | | | | and you can help yourself to fruits from the |
| buildings on the Island - Spanish colonial | | | | trees in the countryside though the most |
| architectural styles, and names of places | | | | important dinners are jerk chicken, and fish |
| etc.. The island was not of significance for | | | | with coconut milk and spices. Almost |
| Spanish at the time.The Slave Economy | | | | everybody in Jamaica speaks English . |
| | | | Driving in Kingston is a challenge for new |
| A few years after capturing the island, the | | | | visitors because there are no signs. With |
| British imported African slaves on large | | | | the popularity of the Internet, a typical |
| scale for sugar plantations. Unlike the | | | | vacation plan to the Island of 2.7 million |
| occupation by the Spanish, Jamaica brought | | | | population starts with the search on the Web |
| prosperity to the English plantation owners | | | | to look for perfect Jamaica Hotels and |
| and many English cities. Plantation dominated | | | | Resorts. When you know the history of |
| economic, political and religious life on the | | | | Jamaica, your visit to the Island will never |
| Island. The laws supported the slave system | | | | be the same.Natalie Aranda writes on travel |
| as well. In 1838, the slaves were freed and | | | | and recreation. Jamaica, today, is one of |
| the plantations started paying wages to its | | | | most popular travel destinations for |
| workers. After Emancipation, many of the | | | | vacationers. People around the world flock |
| ex-slaves settled down and cultivated as | | | | to Jamaica for its weather, culture and |
| small farmers in the mountains. As the | | | | entertainment, or just to spend a weekend in |
| decline of sugar exportation, they began the | | | | luxury Jamaica Hotels. Jamaica is where you |
| exports of logwood, coffee, and bananas.The | | | | can enjoy the different styles of home life |
| Independence and Decolonization | | | | and you can help yourself to fruits from the |
| | | | trees in the countryside though the most |
| The movement for independence was the | | | | important dinners are jerk chicken, and fish |
| reaction to the economic crisis spawned by | | | | with coconut milk and spices. Almost |
| the Great Depression. In 1938, two major | | | | everybody in Jamaica speaks English . |