Jamaica's Relationship with the British Monarchy

Current Status

• Jamaica is considering removing the British Queen as its head of state.
• Prime Minister Andrew Hollness announced intentions to shift Jamaica to a republic in March 2022.
• Jamaica retains Queen Elizabeth II as the monarch due to its historical colonial ties and current constitutional framework.

Historical Overview

Indigenous Inhabitants

• The Arawaks were the original inhabitants who cultivated the land and fished.

European Colonization

• 1494: Christopher Columbus claimed Jamaica for Spain.
• 1509: Spanish established the first settlement, enslaving the Arawak population.
• Many Arawaks died from diseases and harsh conditions imposed by the Spanish.

Transition to English Rule

• 1655: English attacked and took control from the Spanish. Spaniards freed their slaves and fled to Cuba.
• The freed slaves became known as the Maroons, who settled in the highlands and coexisted with remaining Arawaks.
• 1617: England formally took possession of Jamaica.

Slave Trade and Sugar Production

• The English brought many African slaves to cultivate sugar, indigo, and cacao.
• By the 18th century, Jamaica was a major global slave market, with peak sugar production.
• 300,000 slaves endured terrible conditions; many died from starvation between 1780-1787.

Revolts and Resistance

• Frequent slave revolts occurred; some enslaved individuals escaped to join the Maroons.
• The British destroyed many Maroon settlements, leading to the Maroon Wars.
• 1807: Transatlantic slave trade was abolished; 1838: Slavery was abolished in the colonies.

Post-Independence Developments

• Many former slaves moved off plantations.
• British brought workers from India to reduce costs after the plantation system collapsed.
• 1866: Jamaica became a crown colony; major reorganization in governance.
• Established a lucrative banana trade.

Economic Challenges

• The Great Depression (1930s) caused mass unemployment and violence in Jamaica.
• Labour unions formed, leading to demands for independence.

Independence

• 1962: Jamaica gained independence under the Commonwealth, retaining the British monarch as head of state.

Recent Developments

• 2021: Jamaican government sought compensation from Britain for the slave trade.
• Activists like Dr. Rosalia Hamilton push for reparations and acknowledgment of historical wrongs.