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1500-1600's: The Spanish were attacked by the Caribs, pirates, and buccaneers. They attacked the Spanish galleons which were carrying riches back to Spain. The pirates included Blackbeard, Anne Bonny, Henry Morgan, Sir John Hawkins and Sir Francis Drake
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The Spanish lay claim to the Island while many of the native Arawak community dies off from new European diseases.
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Jamaica is taken over by the British.
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Treaty of Madrid: Jamaica formally cedes to the British. Jamaica becomes the world's largest sugar export with large use of imported African slaves. The sugar plantations, worked by African slaves, lead to slave trading and auctions.
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The Jamaican capital, Port Royal, wiped out by an earthquake and
Spanish Town then becomes the new capital. -
Slavery abolished
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Morant Bay rebellion: Freed slaves are pushed in their rebellion against the British and, therefore, Jamaica becomes a crown colony.
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New constitution put in place.
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Serious riots and People's National Party is created by Norman Manley.
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1939-1945 World War II
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Jamaica joins the Federation of the West Indies.
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Jamaica withdrawals from the Federation of the West Indies
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The Colony of Jamaica gained independence from the United Kingdom on 6 August 1962 with Alexander Bustamante as prime minister.
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Michael Manley is chosen prime minister for the PNP
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Edward Seaga is chosen prime minister. The US grants their government substantial while distancing themselves from Cuba.
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Hurricane Gilbert
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Michael Manley returns to the position of prime minister.
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Michael Manley retires due to health and is replaced as Prime Minister by Percival J Patterson.
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The army patrols Kingston due to a massive increase in crime.
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Troops and armored vehicles try to restore order to the capital, Kingston, after three days of violence, leaving 27 people dead.
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United Kingdom introduces a visa requirement for Jamaicans entering the UK. London says that this in place to control illegal immigration.
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Hurricane Ivan
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Prime Minister PJ Patterson anounces is retirement in April 2006.
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In February 2006, Portia Simpson Miller is chosen as head of PNP. She is the first women to be head of PNP.
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Jamaica Labour Party wins general elections in Jamaica and Bruce Golding becomes Prime Mnister.
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Parliament passes a vote keeping the death penalty, as Jamaica fights to control one of the world's highest murder rates.
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Dozens are killed in a mission to arrest well known drug lord Christopher "Dudus" Coke. He is then extradited to the US.
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Upon winning the next election, Portia Simpson-Miller says that 50 years after Jamaica gained its independence from Britain, it is time for the nation to break the chain with the British monarchy and now become a republic.
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Jamaica eliminates flogging and whipping from its forms of punishment.
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Anti-doping officials give Asafa Powell, a world top sprinter, an 18-month ban due to failing a drug test.
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Parliament legalizes the possession of small amounts of cannabis for personal use. Also permitting the use of marijuana for religious, medical, and scientific purposes.
