History of St Vincent and Grenadines

Indigenous Inhabitants (0 - 1498)

Caribs and Arawaks inhabited the islands

European Contact and Control (1498 - 1763)

Christopher Columbus spots the islands in 1498, but does not land

The Caribs resist European colonisation, fighting back for over 200 years

Enslaves Africans from nearby islands escape and join the Caribs

The French begin to settle and establish plantations in 1719. Introducing slavery

Sugar is farmed

British rule (1763 - 1979)

Britain gains control through Treaty of Paris (1763). First Carib War takes place 1772 - 1773 as they try to resist the British but fale

Second Carib War 1795 results in defeat. Black Caribs exiled to Honduras. Slavery abolished by british in

Africans, Portuguese and East Indians, used as "freed" labourers

Independence (1979 - )

Independent in 1979, economy based on bananas and tourism