Antigua and Barbuda History

Frist Explored

Feb 5, 1493

Antigua was first discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493. He named it for the Curch of Santa Maria de la Antigua is Seville.

English settlers

May 16, 1632

English settlers arived in 1632 from St, Kitts and produced many cash crops like sugar, tabacco, ginger, and indigo.

Colonized

Jun 12, 1632

Antigua was colonized by the English in 1632, Barbuda was finaly colonized in 1678.

'Treaty of Breda'

Jul 31, 1667

Antigua was occupied by the French in 1666 for 8 months. Then the land was given back to the English through the 'Treaty of Breda'.

First Forts

Jan 14, 1672

One of the first forts was built on Blake Island in Falmouth Harbour. Another was built on Rat Island in St. John's harbour. Many more forts were built to protect the valueable sugar industry.

Sugar

Feb 11, 1674

Sugar became the main crop when Christopher Codrington resettled his plantation in Antigua. The latest sugar technologies were spread through the island, and some plantation owners switchd from tabacco to sugar.

Fort George

May 17, 1689

Fort George, or Monk's Hill, was started in 1672. Its purpose was to defend Falmouth, Antigua. The whole population of the island, which was about 1200 people, could fit inside.

The Dockyard

Nov 20, 1725

The Dockyard provided a base for a squadron of ships patrolling the West Indies.

Slave Uprising

Sep 6, 1736

Large amounts of slaves were brought from Africa and their conditions were crowded and open to an unrest. An uprising was planned in which the whites would be massacred, but the event was found out and was shut down.

Independence

Nov 1, 1981

Antigua and Barbuda gained full independence on November 1, 1981.