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Historynotes Theme8
Historynotes Theme8
The great economic depression of the 1930s was worldwide. In the industrialized countries,
factories closed and unemployment was experienced by millions of workers. Between 1929 and
1932, world production fell by a third and world trade by two thirds. The depression was felt
hardest in places like the British Caribbean, which depended on one or two major export crops.
Governments lost their spending money as the income from export duties slumped. So they
suspended public works programmes, which had always given work to many part time labourers.
The depression led to a rise in the number of unemployed and ultimately to there was a rise in
the number of strikes in the British Caribbean.
The table below lists protests action that took place between 1935 and 1938
Year
Island
Event
1935
1935
1935
1937
1937
1937
1937
1937
1938
St Kitts
St Vincent
British Guiana
Trinidad
Barbados
British Guiana
St Lucia
Jamaica
Jamaica
Caribbean workers started organizing themselves in labour organizations/ trade unions. Some of
the trade unions and trade union leaders included:
Trade union
British Guiana Labour Union
Bustamante Industrial Union
British Empire Workers
Barbados Workers Union
Trinidad Workingmens Association
In 1938 , largely because of these protest actions, a Royal Commission headed by Lord Alfred
Moyne was appointed to analyze and report on the conditions causing unrest in the West Indies.
Among the conditions which were reported included:
The entire medical service of the English speaking Caribbean should be reorganized
age)
Increased democratization of government
Giving the right to vote to women and to people who did not own land
Self government
It also recommended Federation of all the colonies
Universal adult suffrage spurred the formation of political parties. However, many Caribbean
political parties were formed out of the trade union movement. This is why nearly every party
has the word labour or people in its title. The table below shows some of the major political
parties of the Caribbean.
Decade
formed
Country
1930s
1930s
1950s
1950s
1950s
Barbados
Jamaica
St Lucia
St Vincent and the
Grenadines
St Kitts and Nevis
1950s
Dominica
1950s
Guyana
1960s
1960s
Antigua
OBJECTIVE 3: Explain the reasons for the establishment of a federation of the British
West Indies between 1945 and 1958
By 1958, many Caribbean leaders began to support the idea of a Federation of the English
speaking Caribbean territories.
Political independence: the Federation would give them a stronger voice in world affairs
condition to do so
A strong central authority was needed, rather than delegation by other agencies
A federal authority would be responsible for public order, education and agriculture
In January 1958, after 11 years of discussions, debates and conferences, the Federation of the
West Indies was finally formed. The capital was in Port of- Spain and the Prime Minister
was the Barbadian Grantley Adams. The Federation had 10 members:
1. Antigua and Barbuda
2. Barbados
3. St Kitts and Nevis and Anguilla
4. Dominica
5. Grenada
6. Montserrat
7. Jamaica
8. St Lucia
9. Trinidad and Tobago
10. St Vincent and the Grenadines
The Federation lasted just four years and was dissolved on 31 May 1962, after Jamaica withdrew
following a referendum held in that island in September 1961.
The federal budget was insufficient. The British government agreed to give 500,000 for
the establishment of the Federation. This was not enough in the view of the Caribbean
leaders.
There was lack of popular support for the federation from the majority of the Caribbean
people
There was disagreement among federal leaders in the following areas:
(a) Location of the capital of the Federation: the choice of Barbados for the capital of the
Federation was opposed by Caribbean critics. They felt that the British bureaucrats
preferred Barbados because it had remained a British possession, even keeping its Old
Representative System. The question of where to put the capital produced jealousies.
Finally, the location of the capital of the Federation was located in Port of Spain
Trinidad.
(b) freedom of movement; some territories especially Trinidad feared that they would
In matters that affect the islands, central government makes all decisions.
There are local governments for Curacao, Bonaire and the northern group of islands.
The metropolitan government only exercises its authority in international issues affecting
the Netherlands.
GUADELOPE, MARTINIQUE AND ST MARTIN
municipal council.
The islands are represented in the French National Assembly, French Senate and on the
French Economic and Social Council.
The courts in France have authorities over the islands.