Dominica is an independent nation in North America. With the capital city of Roseau, Dominica 2020 population is estimated at 71,997 according to countryaah. Dominica was populated between 2,000 and 3,000 years ago by the indigenous people of Arawaker. They were urged in the 9th century AD by another indigenous people, the Kalinago / Caribas, who called the island of Waitukubuli (“she who is so tall”, which meant the high mountains of the island). Kalinago offered strong opposition to European colonizers and only in the 18th century did the French gain a foothold on the island. The French were followed by the British and in 1898 Dominica became a British crown colony.
Christofer Columbus reached Dominica on Sunday, November 3, 1493. That is why the country got its name (Dominica means Sunday in Latin). The rugged terrain contributed to the indigenous population being able to withstand the Europeans’ conquest attempts for almost 200 years. Recurring battles with French and British and the illnesses that the Europeans brought with them, however, harmed many victims in the indigenous population. By 1730, their number had dropped from 5,000 to 400 people. Offspring of these caribas (now called kalinago) live on the island today.
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In the 18th century, French settlers succeeded in establishing themselves on the island. The plantations and African slaves were imported as labor. The plantations on Dominica, however, did not become as profitable as on other islands because of the mountains that made all transport difficult. For Dominica political system, please check diseaseslearning.
Unlike slaves on other islands, Dominica’s slaves were allowed to grow and sell their own products. This way, he got a lot of money and was able to buy himself free. Some even owned smaller plantations with slaves.
In 1761 Dominica was conquered by British forces. The dominion over the island changed a few more times before it finally became British in 1805. The British founded a social system that gave white monopoly on politics. 1831, three years before slavery was formally abolished, was also given free black voting rights.
When slavery was abolished in the British colonies in 1834, there were just over 14,000 slaves in Dominica. Many abandoned the plantations where they worked as slaves to clear their own land and provide for independent work. Owning your own parcel is still a strongly rooted tradition among many Dominicans.
When the former slaves moved, the plantations suffered from labor shortages while new villages grew up on the island.
Dominica becomes crown colony
In 1838, Dominica became the first British colony to receive a black majority in the local parliament. Subsequently, several laws were passed that improved the situation for the majority of the population. In 1862, however, the white control returned. Parliament was dissolved and self-government abolished. In 1898, Dominica became a British crown colony, ruled from London.
After unrest in the 1930s, living standards in the British Isles in the Caribbean were raised. New jobs were created and education improved.
The first general elections for a local parliament were held in 1951. The majority of the seats were won by candidates supported by trade unions. A party system had not yet taken shape. Dominica’s first political party, the Labor Party, was founded in 1955.
In 1958, Dominica, along with nine other British colonies, formed the Caribbean Federation, but it collapsed after only a few years. In 1967, Dominica gained the status of a so-called British Associated State, which meant that the island gained self-government in internal affairs, while London continued to conduct foreign policy and defense.
On November 3, 1978, Dominica became an independent state within the Commonwealth, consisting of Britain and the former British colonies. Patrick John from the Labor Party became the country’s first head of government.
