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1492
First Inhabitants
The Ciboney, Arawak and the Carib Indians were the first inhabitants of Jamaica. Europeans did not discover Jamaica until Christopher Columbus landed in the New World. -
Jamaica seized by Britain.
Jamaica was once a colony of Spain before it was invaded by the English in 1655. Jamaica had been a colony of Spain for over a hundred years. -
Treaty of Madrid
Jamaica formally gives up power to Britain by signing the Treaty of Madrid. The treaty ended the war that started in late 1654. -
Earthquake
Port Royal got devastated by an earthquake. Port Royal was once a busy trading center of the British
west Indies. -
Slavery abolished
In 1808 the slave trade in Jamaica was abolished, but that still was not effective. Slavery was officially abolished in August of 1834, and the slaves were given the rights they deserved. -
Independence
Jamaica became independent within the British Commonwealth. Alexander Bushmaster was elected prime minister. -
Hurricane Gilbert
Jamaica was hit with hurricane Gilbert. The hurricane had 175 miles winds and a 40-mile-wide eye, that covered the whole island. -
Portia Simpson Miller
Portia Simpson Miller took over as prime minister in March of 2006. She was Jamaica's first female prime minister. -
Death Penalty
In 2008, parliament voted to keep death penalty. Jamaica struggled with having one of the highest murder rates in the world. -
Christopher "Dudus" Coke
In 2010, dozens of people were killed do to the process of arresting alleged drug lord, Christopher "Dudus" Coke. He was then handed over to the United States.
