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| The
first inhabitants of these islands were Amerindians from South America who traveled there
hundreds of years before Christopher Columbus landed in the Caribbean. With the arrival of
settlers from Europe, foreign diseases greatly reduced the native population, and today
few full-blooded descendants remain.
The European influence on the culture of Trinidad and Tobago primarily comes from Spain, France, and Britain. All three countries claimed the islands at various times during the country’s colonial history. Spanish rule began when Columbus "discovered" Trinidad and lasted for nearly 300 years. During the latter part of Spain’s occupation, French immigrants moved into political offices; in addition to African and Spanish influences, Trinidadian culture began to adopt French traits, language, and customs.
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In
1797, Trinidad came under British control when Sir Ralph Abercromby captured the island
from Spain. In 1802, Trinidad and Tobago officially became British colonies under the
Treaty of Amiens. Under colonial rule, slaves were shipped from Africa to work in the sugar fields and plantations. When the African slave trade was abolished officially in 1834, East Indian and Chinese peasants were hired as
indentured servants to work the fields. Many chose to stay and live in Trinidad and Tobago, even after the practice of indentured servitude ended in 1917. Today, descendants of these African and East Indian laborers make up approximately 80% of the country’s total population. Trinidad and Tobago were politically united in 1888 when they became a British Crown Colony. In 1958, the Federation of the West Indies was formed. Trinidad and Tobago became an independent member of the Commonwealth of Nations in 1962, and in 1967 joined the Organization of American States. On August 1, 1976, the twin islands became the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. |
