British colonization and governance of Jamaica (1655–1962)

1. English forces capture Jamaica from Spain

   May 19, 1655Labels: William Penn, Robert Venables, Jamaica

   • Invasion Jamaica

2. Battle of Rio Nuevo secures English hold

   Jun 25, 1658Labels: Rio Nuevo, English colonial, Jamaica

   • Rio Nuevo

3. Treaty of Madrid formalizes English Jamaica

   Jul 8, 1670Labels: Treaty of, England, Spain

   • Treaty Madrid

4. Royal African Company charter supports slave system

   Jan 1, 1672Labels: Royal African, Charles II

   • UK Archives
   • Britannica

5. Port Royal earthquake devastates colonial port

   Jun 7, 1692Labels: Port Royal, Kingston, earthquake

   • NLJ Digital
   • 1692 quake

6. British–Maroon treaty with Cudjoe signed

   Mar 1, 1739Labels: Cudjoe, Leeward Maroons, Maroon treaty

   • Jamaica Observer

7. Tacky’s Revolt begins in eastern Jamaica

   Apr 7, 1760Labels: Tacky, St Mary, enslaved resistance

   • Tacky Revolt
   • BlackPast

8. Baptist War erupts (Christmas Rebellion)

   Dec 25, 1831Labels: Baptist War, enslaved Jamaicans

   • Baptist War

9. Slavery abolished; apprenticeship system begins

   Aug 1, 1834Labels: Slavery Abolition, apprenticeship system

   • Abolition Act

10. Apprenticeship ends; “full free” emancipation

    Aug 1, 1838Labels: Full emancipation, apprenticeship end

    • Gleaner History

11. Morant Bay Rebellion sparks constitutional upheaval

    Oct 11, 1865Labels: Morant Bay

    • Morant Bay

12. Jamaica declared a Crown colony

    Jan 1, 1866Labels: Crown colony, Governor

    • Britannica

13. Universal adult suffrage granted in Jamaica

    Jan 1, 1944Labels: Universal suffrage, Jamaica

    • NLJ Civics

14. West Indies Federation comes into existence

    Jan 3, 1958Labels: West Indies, Jamaica

    • US Historian
    • WIF

15. Referendum votes to leave West Indies Federation

    Sep 19, 1961Labels: Referendum, Jamaica

    • ECJ
    • 1961 referendum

16. Jamaica Independence Act receives Royal Assent

    Jul 19, 1962Labels: Jamaica Independence, UK Parliament

    • Independence Act

17. Jamaica attains independence from the United Kingdom

    Aug 6, 1962Labels: Independence, Jamaica

    • NLJ
    • Independence 1962