Why did Britain colonize the Caribbean?

The Europeans came to the Caribbean in search of wealth. After unsuccessful experiments with growing tobacco, the English colonists tried growing sugarcane in the Caribbean. This was not a local plant, but it grew well after its introduction. Sugarcane could be used to make various products.

Which Caribbean islands are still British?

Britain is responsible for the defence, security and diplomatic relations of five territories in the Caribbean. These territories are the Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Montserrat and Turks and Caicos Islands.

What Caribbean countries were colonized by the British?

The British West Indies (BWI) were the British territories in the West Indies: Anguilla, the Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands, Montserrat, the British Virgin Islands, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Which Caribbean islands are still colonies?

Vincent and the Grenadines in 1979; Antigua and Barbuda in 1981; and St. Kitts and Nevis in 1983. Currently, Montserrat, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, and the Turks and Caicos Islands remained crown colonies with limited internal self-government.

When did Britain colonize the Caribbean?

British West Indian colonisation began with Saint Kitts in 1623 and Barbados in 1627. The former was used as a base for British colonisation of neighbouring Nevis (1628), Antigua (1632), Montserrat (1632), Anguilla (1650) and Tortola (1672).

Why did Jamaica leave the British Empire?

Because of the loss of property and life in the 1831 Baptist War rebellion, the British Parliament held two inquiries. Their reports on conditions contributed greatly to the abolition movement and passage of the 1833 law to abolish slavery as of 1 August 1834, throughout the British Empire.

Is Barbados a British colony?

Barbados was first occupied by the British in 1627 and remained a British colony until internal autonomy was granted in 1961. The Island gained full independence in 1966, and maintains ties to the Britain monarch represented in Barbados by the Governor General. It is a member of the Commonwealth.

When did the British colonize the Caribbean?

Why was Jamaica important to the British Empire?

Jamaica was important to Britain because of its production of sugar, which was the leading commodity imported into Britain at the time. The most economically and strategically significant part of the empire, however, were the Caribbean colonies, including Jamaica, Antigua, St Kitts, Nevis, and Barbados.

Who originally inhabited the Caribbean?

The Taíno were an Arawak people who were the indigenous people of the Caribbean and Florida. At the time of European contact in the late 15th century, they were the principal inhabitants of most of Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola (the Dominican Republic and Haiti), and Puerto Rico.

When did Jamaica become a British colony?

1655
Jamaica was an English colony from 1655 (when it was captured by the English from Spain), and a British Colony from 1707 until 1962, when it became independent.

How did the British colonies in the West Indies become wealthy?

In the 17th and 18th centuries slaves were moved from Africa to the West Indies to work on sugar plantations. This industry and the slave trade made British ports and merchants involved very wealthy. The first colonies of the British Empire were founded in North America (Virginia, 1607) and the West Indies (Barbados, 1625).

What countries did Britain colonize in East Africa?

British East Africa included the countries that are present-day Kenya, Uganda, and the Zanzibar Islands. The colonization of British East Africa began with the settling of British missionaries in the region in the 1840s.

What was the last British colony to gain independence?

One of the last British colonies to gain its independence was Zimbabwe in 1980. Both Canada and the United States have areas in them that were once British colonies. Today, the US is not governed by the UK, and Canada is a sovereign nation but a constitutional monarchy with the Queen of Canada (Queen Elizabeth) as the head of state.

What was the first British colony in North America?

British colonies. The first colonies of the British Empire were founded in North America (Virginia, 1607) and the West Indies (Barbados, 1625). In 1655 Jamaica was secured. British slave traders started supplying African slaves to the British colonies to work on plantations.