Caribbean History
Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico are three islands that have exceptional and rather distinct histories even though they started off together. The Caribbean is known as paradise, an escape from reality. However, many travelers bypass the rich culture the Caribbean has to offer. So I decided to start my blogthat accompanies my website, Backpacking the Caribbean, by giving a brief overview of each island's background. In the beginning...The Caribbean islands all have the same beginning:
1492 Pre-Columbus: Arawak Indians, the peaceful tribe, are the first to inhabit but were then taken over by the fiery Carib Indians
1500s: Columbus and his crew mistakenly stumble upon the Caribbean islands, thinking he arrived in India.
1600-1750: The European force and pirates settle and fight for the islands
1750-1850: Slavery is introduced in the Caribbean in order to work sugarcane plantations. European powers are now established.
1850-1950: European power begins to decline, slavery has been abolished
1950-2000: Islands become independent, living standards rise in some islands but in others don't; tourism industry dominates
Haiti Haiti is the third largest country in the Caribbean after Cuba and the Dominican Republic. Hispaniola (the land Haiti and the Dominican Republic share) was first ruled by the Spanish, up until other prosperous lands such as Mexico and Peru were sought out. Realizing that Haiti was not filled with gold they let French pirates and the king of France, Louis XIV, take control of the island, eventually becoming France's richest colony. The French Revolution reached Haiti in 1789, inspiring a slave rebellion that ultimately led Haiti to become the first independent island in the Americas in 1804. Dominican Republic Even though the Spanish allowed France to take control of Haiti, the Spanish maintained control of the Dominican Republic which suffered from neglect. In the 1700s and 1800s, Haiti tried to take over the whole island many times but the abundant Spanish population maintained their individuality. The island gained independence in 1844, making it the second-oldest independent country in the Caribbean. Puerto Rico Puerto Rico is the smallest island of the Greater Antilles but attracts the largest tourism. The island was also ruled by the Spanish who hoped to find gold but after some years the idea faded. However, the Spanish did not abandon the island like they did others. Due to Puerto Rico's small size, the Spanish found it feasible to use the island as a military outpost and build massive defenses such as fortresses. Spain began to lose its power in the 1800s, granting Puerto Rico limited autonomy. Continued weakness of Spanish control, allowed the United States to intervene. Eventually, Spain signed a peace treaty, giving the U.S. control of Puerto Rico. In 1917, the U.S. Congress passed an act that granted Puerto Ricans citizenship. Today, Puerto Rico is still under the control of the United States. Hopefully, this brief history gives you an idea of the three islands. Please feel free to comment below. And if you have any questions, feel free to ask! Until next time... Saludos!
