History of Jamaica
Columbus discovered Jamaica on May 5, 1494, one year after he heard of the existence of the island. However, the true history of Jamaica begins with the African-Jamaican people who came to the island twenty years after the English took control from the Spaniards. The history of Jamaica can be broken up into different time periods, which were defined by watershed moments or events. Jamaican history begins with the establishment of the native islanders called the Tainos who inhabited the island for hundreds of years before the discoveries of Columbus. (JNHT 1)
The Tainos are a subgroup of the Arawak people who were first native to South America. These indigenous groups traveled by canoe to the Caribbean islands hundreds of years prior to the arrival of Europeans. The Tainos developed the first social, political, and economical systems on the island of Jamaica. Their social system followed the beliefs of their many gods who could be found in almost any material or animal. The political system constructed was similar to the hierarchy of many European countries with a Chief and nobles. The nobles acted as advisors to the Chief and every citizen in the tribe had a role in the community. Also regions were divided by geographical location and ruled by chiefdoms. The Tainos economic system was basic and simple compared with the standards of today. It was based on fishing and hunting from the surrounding environment. Large mounds were used to slow the process of erosion and to improve drainage to better the living conditions in the tropical climate.
The fourth voyage of Columbus in 1494 established a Spanish influence in Jamaica. The original people of Jamaica, the Tainos, were severely devastated by the Spanish invasion. The Taino population declined every year after the arrival of Columbus due to the spread of new diseases which they had little immunity to. Having little access to the already poor treatments and medicines available at the time furthered the decrease in Taino population. The Taino population decreased by more than half of their original population by 1598 because of Spanish presence. (Carley)
New Seville became the first settlement built by the Spanish in 1510. Nueva Sevilla was governed by Columbus' son Di...
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...nging of the capital and political system was a shift in island productions from sugar to bananas. (Sherlock)
The Great Depression, which affected everyone in the world during the 1930’s, was another event that brought about positive changes in Jamaica. Jamaica’s depression came towards the end of the United States depression. Coinciding with the depression was the leaf spot disease found on bananas causing exports to decrease as well as job opportunities. The decline in social conditions resulted in labor riots that ended with the deaths of a few workers, but turned Jamaica into a self-Independent nation. The economic revolution can be characterized as a “Cultural Revolution” because of the Jamaicans binding together in times of adversity and pushing for a more democratic system (Carley 195). The leader of the labor riots, Alexander Bustamante, became the first Prime Minister of Jamaica. In 1944, voting rights were given to all Jamaicans 21 and older; also in 1944, the Jamaican Labor party gained control of the government. After years of struggles and repression from European dominance, Jamaica finally gained full independence from England on August 5, 1962. (JNHT 4)
addition, after WWI, there were many waves of Jamaican peoples that would come to America.
One question posed by the authors is “How did Columbus’s relationship with the Spanish crown change over time, and why?” In simple terms, Columbus’s relationship with the
The earliest inhabitants to come to Jamaica were the Arawaks. They came at about 600 B.C. About sixty to one-hundred thousand people immigrated to Jamaica. While they were here they invented the ...
Milanich, Jerald T. and Susan Milbrath., ed. First Encounters: Spanish Exploration in the Caribbean and the United States1492-1570. Gainesville: U of Florida P, 1989.
Delia is a hard working woman who uses her faith in God to guide and protect her from her husband’s physical and emotional abuse. She, as a protagonist, is physically weak but yet spiritually strong. Sykes, in the story, tormented Delia in many ways throughout the story. One incident was with the bull horn when he tried to scare Delia while she was sorting the white clothes. Sykes also kicks all the clothes she had sorted all over the floor. Through all the pain and torment she goes through with Sykes, she still goes to church on Sundays and pray and come home go back to working around the house.
Many people would argue that Columbus had discoverd the west Indies this is because most of the historians in the 1400's, which were Europeans therefore they writ biased text glorify their country where by they wanted to avoid any form of negative conspiracy attached to it. Even though we have read the Europeans point of view, we are still left in the dark as to hearing both sides of the story. We have been shown only one side of the coin, the arawaks were illiterate and therefore is was most unlikely to keep anyform of records concerning the evens that had taken place. As outsides to the real facts, we have little knowledge of the arawaks and what had really happened.
“Early on, the narrative establishes that Sykes both physically and mentally torments Delia. Scolding him for scaring her by sliding across her knee a bullwhip that she thinks is a snake, Delia say...
...ng point, ‘“Mah cup is done run ovah,”’ again, another metaphorical illustration of how tired she is of being physically mistreated and mentally abused by Sykes, thus, her rage is channeled towards protecting herself and the property she has assumed through her dedication as a washwoman. Hurston makes this ever so clear as Delia shouts at Sykes, ‘“Don't think Ah'm gointuh be run 'way fum mah house neither.”’ Sykes has been unfaithful to Delia for a while now and she has finally taken the final straw. Hurston empowers Delia, through writing, “Delia said this with no signs of fear and Sykes departed from the house, threatening her, but made not the slightest move to carry out any of them.” This is an important step for Delia towards independence. Delia is no longer afraid of Sykes, however she has one more fear to overcome before she is completely free of oppression.
In Delia’s case she is a women with a job, but even with work she is still powerless to Sykes, her husband. As a woman her freedom is still robbed from her by men’s overpowering force, which in her case is Sykes’s abusive behavior towards her. It also shows that men in society disagree with women working at jobs, as shown through Sykes’s words, “Ah don’t keer if you never git through. Anyhow, ah done promised Gawd and a couple of other men, ah ain’t gonna have it in mah house. Don’t gimme no lip neither, else Ah’ll throw’em out and put my fist up side yo’ head to boot” (176-77). Sykes claims emphasize that men including God are in agreement with him that they too also do not approve of women performing work. Women who have work means that they have equal standing as men, which goes against society’s views. Also, Delia’s marriage represents the binding of mental and physical freedom to her husband, which she has endured with for many years.
Delia is a hard-working woman who is very obedient and faithful to her husband, Sykes. Through harsh words, he cuts her down about her work of washing white folks clothes and her looks saying that he 'hates skinny woman';. Delia's appearance resembles her hard work, with 'knuckly hands'; from using the washboard. Delia has put many hard- earned tears, blood, and sweat into her house while supporting Sykes' habits and taking all the abuse he could dish out. On many occasions Sykes has cut down Delia and her kind nature, even to her religious beliefs, accusing her of being a 'hipocrite'; because she worked on the Sabbath day.
The word Taino meant "good" or "noble" in their language, and not only were the Indians peaceful and generous in their hospitality, but early Spanish chroniclers document that no Spaniard ever saw Indians fighting among themselves. By the end of the 15th century the Tainos were well organized into five tribes, and are considered to have been of the verge of civilization and central government. Recent estimates indicate that there probably were as many as 200,000 Tainos on the island at the time.
Legal drinking age varies by many countries. In U.S.A, There has been a lot of debate when it comes to the legal drinking age here in US. When it comes to law. There is always an opinion, some are for it and some are against. When it comes to the legal drinking age being 21 we are totally against it. Many people still say the government should prohibit using alcoholic drinks at the age of 18. Legal adults deserve to be treated as such it is time the arbitrary drinking age of 21 Was lowered to 18, because there is no evidence that the National Minimum Drinking Age Act is effective or protects the people it is intended to protect . The Notional Minimum Drinking Age Act was passed in 1984 in an attempt to decrease the number of drunk driving related accidents. The act threatens to decrease a state’s budget for high way construction and maintenance if it sets its drinking age under 21. According to Cuccoli , “ Keeping the drinking age at such a low age is leading to more cases of binge drinking,” (Cuccoli). Mothers against drunk driving reports that the number of alcohol related fatalities involving a vehicle decreased from 26, 173 to 16, 885 between 1982 and 2005.
People who think the drinking age should be lowered are because of three facts. Under the National Minimum Drinking Age Act, fewer young adults drink, but when they do drink they tend to drink more, which lead to a more serious problem - binge drinking. Furthermore, people can vote, adopt children, sign up for Iraq or become a commercial pilot at 18. Therefore, it is double standard to set the drinking age at 21. Another point is that kids are going to drink regardless of its legality. It is better to lower the drinking age so they can do it legally and parents can reach to them more easily. On the other hand, some people think the government should not lower the drinking age becau...
In the very beginning of “Sweat” one can see that Delia possesses a very strong work ethic, by the way that she is working vigorously to wash the clothes for the white people that she worked for to put food on the table and a roof over her and Sykes’ head. The white clothing that Delia washes in the story represents her character. White signifies her virtuousness and wholesome spirit. Delia has a docile personality and a prevailing belief in God. Delia’s body may be physically broken from all the years of tough labor and mistreatment from Sykes, however her spirit remains unbroken. Delia is a church going woman that is inspired by her trust in God. She has confidence that God will steer her the right way and shield her from Sykes cruel physical and emotional abuse.
...ms within. I grew up on the lake, so water will and has always been a part of my life. I go to the beach almost every year, so I am frequently involved with the ocean life as well. My dad is a fisherman; he has been to many places and shown me many unique animals he has caught. I feel that it would be the most interesting job to have because there is a huge ocean to explore. Another awesome part of the job would be the idea of always learning new things about the fish. It would never turn into that job that has the same old routine because discoveries are still being made. The only down side to being a marine biologist is constantly smelling like a fish and dealing with the rather large fish that could endanger my life. But every job is going to have a down side, if these two are the only downsides to having this job, then I would have no problem conquering my fear.