Figure 1.---After slavery was abolished there was a severe shortage of labor in the Caribbean islands like Trinidad. The former slves no longer wanted to woirk on plantations. The British introduced the Coolie Labor System, importing indentured labor from Asia, primarily China and India. Workers from Asia were referred to as Coolies. Here is a Coolie hut in the early-20th century. It is difficult to tell, but the man looks African and the woman Indian. The term 'coolie' is now considered derogatory.
Trinidad was the first Caribbean Island to be settled by Native Americans. It is visible from the South American mainland and easily accessible on even primitive dug-out canones. The spread to the islands of the Caribbean Arc was a much more difficult undertaking. Trinidad and Tobago proved to be a much sought after prize in the colonial wars that followed the European discovery of the Americas. Columbus claimed Trinidad for Spain (1498). The Spanish established the first settlement (1532), but an English force commanded by Sir Walter Raleigh destroyed the settlement (1595). The English were, however, unable to hold on to the Island and the Spanish reestablished control. The Spanish colonial epoch lasted three centuries and is reflected in the name of the capital--Port of Spain. Sugar production was not initiated by the Spanish, byt French planters from Haiti abd other French islands did on a smll scale. Sugar and slavery became imprtant to the islnd's economy. The British took cotrol of the island again as a result of the European wars initiated by the French Revolution. A British naval force seized the island. Spain ceded the island under theterms of the Treaty of Amiens (1802). The British seized Tobago durig the Napoleonic Wars (1803). The history of the smaller island of Tobago is a little more complicated. The Dutch who were a major naval power at the time raided and then seized Tobago from the Spanish (1630s). They introduced sugar cane. The French who were allied with the Spanish during the American War for Independence seized Tobago (1781). They greatly expnded the sugar planttions importing more Africans to work as slaves. The British who had seized Trinidad took possession of Tobago after the Napoleonic wars (1814).
After slavery was abolished there was a severe shortage of labor in the Caribbean islands like Trinidad. The former slves no longer wanted to woirk on plantations. The British introduced the Coolie Labor System, importing indentured labor from Asia, primarily China and India. Workers from Asia were referred to as Coolies. The British amalgamated Trinidad and Tobago to administer as a single unified colony (1888). Trinidad was the site of important military bases during World War II, including American facilities. The British began making major reforms after World War II, introducing adult suffrage (1945). The British sponsored the West Indies Federation believng thatvthe individual islands were too small for independence. The Federation proved unpopular for the independent-minded peoples involved and the Federation Caribbean peoples thought otherwise and the Federation collapsed. Britain grnted the Island independence (1962). Eric Williams dominated independent Trinidad for two decadeds. Williams served as primeminister from independence until his death (1981). Williams headed the People�s National Movement (PNM) which was the dominant political party until the mid-1980s. Unlike some Caribbean islands, Trinidad has been generally stable since independence. An Islamic militant group seized Parliament (1990). The Government promised reforms and the militants released the hostages, including the country's prime minister. The Islamic militants were granted amnesty (1992).
