Out Of Many One People

Jamaica is a tiny island situated in the Caribbean Sea.The history of Jamaica is rich and vibrant. Their history outlines the opulence and hardships faced by the people.

The original inhabitants of Jamaica were believed to be the Tainos. They came from South America 2,500 years ago and named the island Xaymaca, which means “land of wood and water”. The Tainos lived quiet and peaceful until they were destroyed by the Spaniards some years after Christopher Columbus discovered the island in 1494. 

On May 5, 1494 Christopher Columbus and his settlers known as the Spaniards, sailed west to get to the East Indies and came upon the region now called the West Indies and landed in Jamaica. He had heard about Jamaica, from the Cubans who described it as "The land of blessed golds".Shortly after, Columbus found out that this was a myth.The Spaniards tortured and killed the Tainos to get their land. They were overworked and ill-treated and within a short time they had all died.

In 1655,the English led a successful attack on Jamaica. The Spaniards surrendered to the English, freed their slaves and then fled to Cuba. The English settlers concerned themselves with growing crops that could easily be sold in England.The English enslaved Africans and used them to fill the large labour force required for the industry. The slave trade became a popular and profitable venture for the colonists because they were impressed with the endurance and performance of the Africans. However the slaves where unhappy with there status and the inhumane treatment they received and this led to numerous slave rebellions.The increase frequency of slave rebellion in Jamaica was one of the factor that led to the abolition of the slave trade and slavery. It was declared to be "unlawful”. Emancipation and apprenticeship came into effect in 1834 and full freedom was granted in 1838.

reference:http://jis.gov.jm/information/jamaican-history/