Trinidad and Tobago
Columbus landed on and named Trinidad in 1498, and Spaniards settled
the island a century later. Spanish colonizers largely wiped out the
original inhabitants--Arawak and Carib Indians--and the survivors
were gradually assimilated. Although it attracted French, free
black, and other non-Spanish settlers, Trinidad remained under
Spanish rule until the British captured it in 1797. During the
colonial period, Trinidad's economy relied on large sugar and cocoa
plantations. Tobago's development was similar to other plantation
islands in the Lesser Antilles and quite different from Trinidad.
During the colonial period, French, Dutch, and British forces fought
over possession of Tobago, and the island changed hands 22
times--more often than any other West Indies island. Britain took
final possession of Tobago in 1803. The two islands of Trinidad and
Tobago were incorporated into a single colony in 1888. Trinidad and
Tobago achieved full independence in 1962 and joined the British
Commonwealth. Trinidad and Tobago became a republic in 1976. |
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The people of Trinidad and Tobago are mainly of African or East
Indian descent. Virtually all speak English. Small percentages also
speak Hindi, French patois, and several other dialects. Trinidad has
two major folk traditions: Creole and East Indian. Creole is a
mixture of African elements with Spanish, French, and English
colonial culture. Trinidad's East Indian culture came to the island
beginning May 30, 1845 with the arrival of indentured servants
brought to fill a labor shortage created by the emancipation of the
African slaves in 1838. Most remained on the land, and they still
dominate the agricultural sector, but many have become prominent in
business and the professions. East Indians have retained much of
their own way of life, including Hindu and Muslim religious
festivals and practices. |
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