History of Planning in Jamaica General History The recorded history of Jamaica may be roughly divided into six periods: The first period may be said to date from Columbus? arrival in the island in 1494 to the destruction of Port Royal in 1692. This covers nearly 200 years. But very little is known about the days when the Spaniards were masters of Jamaica. On the other hand, a good deal is known about the first fifty years of Jamaica as a British colony.
The second period extends from the destruction of Port Royal to the abolition of the slave trade in 1807. During this time Jamaica flourished as an agricultural colony and became very rich. It reached the height of its prosperity just before the slave trade was abolished; that is, just before the British Government decided that no more slaves were to be brought from Africa and sold as private property The third period of Jamaican history includes the years between the abolition of the slave trade and the Morant Bay rebellion in 1865.
Andrew Jacobs / 20070811.10D.44748 / SML Skydive
The aftermath of the 1882 Kingston fire.
English: Kingston, JamaicaDuring the 46 years between the abolition of the slave trade and the rebellion, the country passed through many misfortunes and there was a great deal of misery and ill-feeling among the different classes of people in the island.
The fourth period dates from 1865 to the end of July, 1914.
The fifth period began with the outbreak of the First World War on August 1, 1914 and ended on August 1962.
The sixth period began on August 6, 1962, and records the history of Jamaica as an independent country. (Macmillan M) Government The system of government is democratic and the people of Jamaica elect the government every five years, everybody in Jamaica aged 18 or over having the right to vote. The Parliament consists...