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Jan 1, 1498
Christopher Columbus sees the coast of Suriname.
Christopher Columbus saw the coast, and he told the Europeans about it. Before him, a group named the Surinen lived there. That's why they made the name of the country Suriname. -
Period: Jan 1, 1498 to
Suriname Important Events
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Europeans start to settle
The Europeans accomplished their first permanent settlement in Suriname. They were led by Lord Francis Willoughby. -
Plantations
Coffee and sugar plantations were established at this time. The workers consisted of African American slaves. -
No more slavery
The Native American were no longer slaves in Suriname. Instead there were indentured labourers brought from China, Java, and India to work on the plantations. -
Suriname gains independence
Suriname became independent with Johan Ferrier as president and Henk Arron as prime minister. They broke off from the Kingdom of the Netherlands, but kept their economy and cultural ties the same. -
Seize power
Armed forces seized government power in a coup led by a man named Lieutenant-Colonel Desire Bouterse. In response to the seize, the Netherlands and the US stop giving economic aid. -
A new president
Ramsewak Shankar becomes the new president for Suriname. He also is an agricultural minister. -
Drug smuggling
The Dutch government claims that Bouterse smuggled in more than two tonnes of cocaine into the Netherlands. In 1999, he is convicted of the crime in absentia. -
Suriname dollar replaces guilder
Done to restore confidence in the economy. One dollar is equal to 1,000 guilders. -
Suriname flood
Because of heavy rain, Suriname's flood left 20,000 civilians homeless. "Lowland areas were in total chaos," says president Venetiaan.
