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The Caribs reached St. Vincent only shortly before the European discovery. Columbus explored the Island (1498). St Vincent was largely ignored in the early colonial period. The Spanish did not settle the Island. Which meant that unlike the Dutch, English, and French islands, there was no sugar plantations and the Amer-Indian population was left alone except for occasional slave raids for nearly two centuries. St. Vincent was claimed by both the British and French. The British claim was settled by the Treaty of Paris whih ended the Seven Years War (1763). St. Vincent as well as Grenada and the Grenidines between them along with Dominica abd Tobago, substntially increasiung Britain's presence in the Caribben and potential for sugar production. St. Vincent was one of the few islands where the Caribs continued to hold out into the 18th century. Negotiations between the British and Caribs resulted in a division of the Islands (1773). This did not prevent conflicts. The Caribs revolted and were defeated by the British in two wars. (Disrtractions in the Cariibean were a major problem the British faced in comcentrating their forces to fight the American Revolutionary War.) The British deported most of the surviving Caribs to the Bay Islands in the Gulf of Honduras. The British introduced the sugar industry Sugar cane devedlopment began and captive Africans were imported to work as slaves on the sugar plantations under brutal conditions. Portuguese and East Indian laborers were also brought to the Islands. The island thus began the sad pattern of other Caribbean islands, although over a much shorter time frame than many other Caribbean islands. This meant at the time of emancipatuion, many freed slaves actually had menories of Africa, something that was unusual in the United States. Britain using the powerful Royal Navy began to supress the slave trade (1807) and emancipated the slaves (1835). The Islands was part of the West Indies Federation (1958-62). Britain granted home rule as part of the West Indies Associated States (1969). Britain granted full indepensence (1979). The country faced some terrible natural disasters. Mount Soufrière erupted (April 1979) and the norther part of the Island had to be evacuated. The result was a total disruption of the economy. Prime Minister Milton Cato had to deal with a rebellion (December 8, 1979). This was followed by Hurricane Allen (1980) which futher damaged the fragil economy--destroying the important banana harvest. Britain granted independencec (1981). This was somewhat ater than many other countries, primsrily because the islanders did not push for it as aggressivly as many other countries and the failed efforts at West Indian federation. The economy has slowly recovered. The European Union's more favoral treatment of St. Vincent bananas was an important step (1999). The Government has been working to diversify the economy and has made some progress with tourism. The country has established a stable partimentary democracy. The Unity Labour Party (ULP) unexpectely upset the ruling party (2001). The ULP was led by Ralph Gonsalves, a lawyer, who became the new prime minister. He was reelected (2005).
Thereis archaeological evidence that Aner-Indians reached St. Vincent (around 150 AD). Several Amer-Indianso arrived, each displacing or joinng with one another. Saint Vincent was first inhabited by the Ciboney people. It is not kbown how these Ameri-Indian peopl reached St. Vinceny and the other Caribbean iskands, but it surely was done by dug-out canoes. The Ciboney people were fllowed by an Arawak triubes. Arawak-speaking people populted large areas of northern South Amneruca. Tribes along the norther coast of South Anerica (modern Venezuela) played a major role in populating the Caribbean islands. It is mot know if they replaced the Cibioney people or joined with them. Given the nature of Aner-Indian tribal behavior, basttles re likely, although the women would proibanly have gred better than the men. About a century before the arrival of European explorers, the Arawak were displaced by Carib grioups also venturing from the northern coast of South America (14th century). An important devrlopment occurred on St. Vincent during the ealy colonial period, but before the European settlement of the island. An unknown number of African slaves escaped from nearby islands, especially Barbados, and somne how managed to reach St. Vincent. This would surely been by accident as few slaves would have known the islabd contained free people. Or if they somnehow did would have had the navigational skills needed to reach St. Vincent. They becamne known as Black Caribs or Garifuna, a population developing from intermarriage between the indigenous Caribs and the escape slaves. Shipwrecks were also part of the story. A dutch ship wrecked in the Grenadines (1635 or73) and captive Africans who suceeded in escaping. They eventually reached the Saint Vincent mainland.and joined with the Caribs.
Maby asuthors claim Columbus discvered and explored the Island, naning it St. Vinmcent (1498), but these have been contraducted by recent authors. St Vincent was largely ignored in the early colonial period. The Spanish did not settle the Island which allowed other Europensto try.
There were British, French, and Dutch attempts to settle the island, but the Caribs resisted. Dutch Engkish abnd French olbters tried to establish sugar platationss, but without major armed intervention by their governments. Which meant that unlike the Dutch, English, and French islands, Amer-Indian resistance was not broken. Amer-Indian siciety surtvived for nearly two centuries, aided by the infusion of run-away slaves--the Black Caribs. The French prevailed for a time. Limited French settlement along St. Vincent's western coast (17h century). A factor here was that the Black Caribs had mistly ome from Barbados and had experienced slavery under English rule. In addition the English were particularly aggresive in attemopts to destroy the Caribs. As a result, the Caribs saw the French as potential allies against the hated English. Dutch, English, and French plantrs established themselves on the island, but the Black Caribs were a constant threat. The French tried to destroy the Caribs, but failed (1654). They ewere fitrced to dign a peace treaty. They reported some 3,000 black Carubs were pure (called Yellow) Caribs. Precise nunmbrs varied over tme. A few years later an English report submitted by a Colonel Philip Warner: "In Saint Vicent, a French possession, there are about 3000 black and none of the islands there are that amount of Indians." [Calendar of State Papers] The British broke the treaty negotiated by the French and the Caribs in Basse Terre, and also tried to defeat the Caribs (1668). The Caribs came to see the British as their major enemy. The Brtitish were incensed that the Caribs were nharboring the run away slaves. They aklso failed. The problem fir the Bruitish bd French was tht cost of amassing n army copanle of defeating the Caribs was more than the few plantations were worth. It waa not only battle casualtiues that had to be consiudered, but tropical diseases which could destroy an entire army. Fueled by the demand for sugar nd the enormous profits to be had, European effirts to settle ikn the island inceased. Despite Carib resistsnce for A century, the French managed to create the island's first European settlement, Barrouaille (1719). The French became the primary plnter class. The Treaty of Paris ending the Seven Years War granted Britain granted Saint Vincent to Britain (1763). The Caribs refused, however, to accept British rule. After joining the American colomists in the Revolutionary War, the Frenbch seized Srt Vincent (1779). The Anericans at the end of the War decided on a separate peaace treary with Britain ginung what only can be decribed as a sweet deal, gaining mote tjabd than they actually controlled--the West all the way to the Mossissippi. The Frebch did noyt do so well in their separate peace--the Treaty of Versailles (1783). Among other matters they had to return St, Vincent to the British.
St. Vincent was claimed by both the British and French. The British claim was settled by the Treaty of Paris which ended the Seven Years War (1763). St. Vincent as well as Grenada and the Grenidines between them along with Dominica abd Tobago, substantially increasing Britain's preesence in the Caribben and potential for sugar production. Britain took administrative steps, but did not fully control the island until after the American Revolution (1776-1783).
After the Seven Years War, Britain created an imperial possession known as the the Windward Islands. This included of Grenada, Saint Vincent, Dominica, Tobago, and the Grenadines. A representative assembly royal givernor was created in in Grenada. Voting for respresentives was restructed to the white poropertied class. This efoirt at union quickly collapsed and each of the islands were authorized to establish separate representative assemblies. St. Vincent was, however, different becuse the British did not have full control. The Caribs continued to hold out. Negotiations between the British and Caribs resulted in a division of the Islands (1773). This did not prevent conflicts. The Caribs revolted and were defeated by the British (1772-73). (Disrtractions in the Cariibean were a major problem the British faced in comcentrating their forces to fight the American Revolutionary War.) There was still Crib resistabce and a second war ensued (1796-96). The British as a result deported most of the surviving Caribs to the Bay Islands in the Gulf of Honduras. The British introduced the sugar industry. Sugar cane plabtations expanded and captive Africans were imported to work as slaves on the sugar plantations under brutal conditions. Portuguese and East Indian laborers were also brought to the Islands. The island thus began the sad pattern of other Caribbean islands, although over a much shorter time frame than many other Caribbean islands. This meant at the time of emancipatuion, many freed slaves actually had menories of Africa, something that was unusual in the United States. Britain using the powerful Royal Navy began to supress the slave trade (1807) and emancipated the slaves (1835). The Islands were part of the West Indies Federation (1958-62). Britain granted home rule as part of the West Indies Associated States (1969). Britain granted full indepensence (1979). The country faced some terrible natural disasters. Mount Soufrière eerupted (April 1979) and the northern part of the Island had to be evacuated. The result was a total disruption of the economy. Prime Minister Milton Cato had to deal with a rebellion (December 8, 1979). This was followed by Hurricane Allen (1980) which futher damaged the already fragil economy. Bananas were the most importabt export crop anbd the 1979 harvest was destroyed. Inlike sdome crops, the plantations can not resumed fu;ll production the mext year.
Britain granted full independencec, the last of the Windward Islands to gain independence (1979). This was somewhat lter than many other countries, primsrily because the islanders did not push for it as aggressivly as many other countries and the failed efforts at West Indian federation. Independent St. Vincent was formed as a constitutional monarchy and became a member of the British Commonwealth. The first elections were held (December 1979). he Saint Vincent Labour Party, whivch was the the ruling party under home rule. Its leader, Milton Cato, became the first prime minister of independent St. Vincent. Cato was a Caribbean nationalist and wanted closer links with other islnd stares, especually Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados with centrist goverments. Unfortunlely 1979 was an otherwise calamotus year--few countries have begun indeoedence under such terribe cinditions. The new country was confronted debilitating natural disasters. Mount Soufrière eerupted (April 1979) and the northern part of the Island had to be evacuated. The result was a total disruption of the economy. Prime Minister Milton Cato had to deal with a rebellion (December 8, 1979). This was followed by Hurricane Allen (1980) which futher damaged the already fragil economy. Bananas were the most importabt export crop anbd the 1979 harvest was destroyed. Inlike sdome crops, the plantations can not resumed full production the mext year. The economy has slowly recovered. The European Union's more favoral treatment of St. Vincent bananas was an important step (1999). The Government has been working to diversify the economy and has made some progress with tourism. The country has established a stable partimentary democracy. The Unity Labour Party (ULP) unexpectely upset the ruling party (2001). The ULP was led by Ralph Gonsalves, a lawyer, who became the new prime minister. He was reelected (2005).
Calendar of State Papers (1665–1676), Vol. 10, reissue of 1964.
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