Jamaica
Jamaica is an island country in the Caribbean Sea and the West Indies. At 10,990 square kilometres (4,240 sq mi), it is the third largest island—after Cuba and Hispaniola—of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean. Jamaica lies about 145 km (90 mi) south of Cuba, 191 km (119 mi) west of Hispaniola, and 215 km (134 mi) south-east of the Cayman Islands.
Some of the key events about Jamaica
- 1494The island was claimed for Spain during Christopher Columbus' second voyage to the Americas
- 1655Jamaica was captured by the English, marking the beginning of British colonial rule
- 1655Spanish colonizers were forcibly expelled from Jamaica by the English
- 1692A devastating earthquake and tsunami destroyed much of Port Royal
- 1739The First Maroon War began, marking a period of conflict between Jamaican Maroons and British colonists
- 1760Tacky's War, a major slave uprising, resulted in significant loss of life and property damage
- 1831The Baptist War, a large slave rebellion, was violently suppressed
- 1834Slavery was abolished in Jamaica, leading to the emancipation of enslaved people
- 1865The Morant Bay rebellion was brutally crushed, leading to widespread criticism of Jamaica's colonial government
- 1872Kingston became the capital city of Jamaica, replacing Spanish Town
- 1907A major earthquake struck Kingston, causing extensive damage and loss of life
- 1938Labor riots broke out across the island, highlighting poor working conditions and economic struggles
- 1944Universal adult suffrage was introduced, allowing all adults to vote
- 1951A severe hurricane caused widespread destruction and numerous fatalities
- 1962Jamaica gained independence from the United Kingdom, becoming a sovereign nation
- 1969The University of the West Indies Mona campus was established in Jamaica
- 1972Jamaica's first national park, the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park, was established
- 1976A state of emergency was declared due to political violence and economic instability
- 1998Jamaica's bobsled team made its historic debut at the Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan
- 2015The Blue and John Crow Mountains were designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.
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