History of Dominica facts for kids

The history of Dominica officially began in November 1493. This is when Christopher Columbus first saw the island. Before Europeans arrived, the Arawak people lived there. Dominica was a French colony from 1715 until 1763. Then, it became a British colony from 1763 until 1978. Dominica finally became an independent country in 1978.

Early People of Dominica

The first people to live in Dominica were the Arawak. They traveled to the Caribbean islands from the Orinoco River area. Later, another group called the Caribs, also known as the Kalinago, arrived. They settled on the island around the 14th century. The Caribs called the island Wai‘tu kubuli, which means "Tall is her body."

First European Visitors

Christopher Columbus saw Dominica on November 3, 1493, during his second trip. He named the island "Dominica" because he spotted it on a Sunday. "Dominica" means "Sunday" in Latin.

The Caribs fought bravely against the Spanish, who did not find much gold. Because of this, the Spanish did not settle on the island. Many Carib people still live in Dominica today. They live in a special area called the Carib Territory. This area is about 3,700-acre (15 km²) on the east coast of Dominica.

In 1632, France claimed Dominica and other nearby islands. But they did not try to settle there yet. From 1642 to 1650, a French missionary named Raymond Breton visited the island often. In 1660, France and England agreed that Dominica should be a neutral place. This meant it would be left for the Caribs and not settled by Europeans. Even so, both French and English loggers started cutting down trees there in the early 1700s.

Dominica as a French Colony (1715–1763)

Spain had little success in settling Dominica. So, in 1690, the French started their first lasting settlements. French woodcutters from nearby Martinique and Guadeloupe set up camps. They supplied wood to the French islands. Slowly, these camps became permanent homes. These French settlers brought the first enslaved people from West Africa to Dominica.

In 1715, some small farmers from Martinique moved to southern Dominica. They started small farms. At the same time, French families from Guadeloupe settled in the north. In 1727, Dominica officially became a French colony. The island was divided into different areas. The French started growing coffee on plantations. They brought more enslaved Africans to work on these farms.

In 1761, during the Seven Years' War, British forces led by Lord Rollo took over Dominica. After France lost the war, they gave Dominica to the British. This happened with the Treaty of Paris (1763) in 1763.

Dominica as a British Colony (1763–1978)

Dominica became a British possession in 1763 after the Seven Years' War. In 1778, during the American Revolutionary War, the French attacked Dominica. Many French people living on the island helped them. The French successfully took over. However, the 1783 Treaty of Paris ended the war. This treaty gave Dominica back to Britain. The French tried to invade again in 1795 and 1805, but they failed. The 1805 invasion burned much of Roseau, the capital city.

In 1763, the British created a law-making group called a legislative assembly. Only white people could be part of this group. In 1831, a new law called the Brown Privilege Bill gave political rights to free non-white people. The next year, three Black people were elected to the assembly. Slavery was ended in 1834. By 1838, Dominica became the only British Caribbean colony with a Black-controlled legislature. Most Black lawmakers were small farmers or business owners. Their ideas were very different from the rich English plantation owners. The plantation owners wanted more direct British rule.

In 1865, the British government changed the assembly. Half of its members were elected, and half were appointed by the British. The power of the Black population slowly decreased. In 1871, Dominica became part of the Leeward Island Federation. The British took even more control in 1896.

After World War I, people in the Caribbean wanted more say in their governments. A group formed to push for more representation. This group won many seats in the legislative assembly in 1924 and 1936. Later, Dominica joined the Windwards group. Then, in 1958, it joined the West Indies Federation, which did not last long.

In 1961, the Dominica Labor Party won elections. Edward Oliver LeBlanc became the leader. After the federation broke up, Dominica became an associated state of the United Kingdom on February 27, 1967. This meant Dominica was in charge of its own internal affairs. LeBlanc retired in 1974. Patrick John took his place and became Dominica's first Prime Minister.

Independence and Modern Times (1978 to Present)

On November 3, 1978, the Commonwealth of Dominica became fully independent from the United Kingdom.

In August 1979, Hurricane David hit the island very hard. Its winds were about 150 mph (240 km/h). Forty-two people died, and 75% of homes were destroyed or badly damaged.

Becoming independent did not immediately solve all of Dominica's economic problems. In mid-1979, political issues led to a temporary government. Oliver Seraphin led this government. After elections in 1980, the Dominica Freedom Party took power. Eugenia Charles became Prime Minister. She was the first female prime minister in the Caribbean. She survived two attempts to remove her from power within a year. In 1983, she supported the US Invasion of Grenada.

Dominica faced ongoing economic challenges. Hurricanes in 1979 and 1980 made things worse. By the late 1980s, the economy improved. But it weakened in the 1990s because banana prices dropped.

In 1995, the United Workers Party won the elections. Edison James became prime minister. He served until 2000. In the February 2000 elections, the Dominica Labour Party (DLP) won. Rosie Douglas led the DLP. He died suddenly in October 2000, after only eight months in office. Pierre Charles, also from the DLP, replaced him.

In 2003, Nicholas Liverpool became president. On January 6, 2004, Prime Minister Pierre Charles died from heart problems. He was the second prime minister in a row to die in office. Osborne Riviere briefly became prime minister. Then, Roosevelt Skerrit became the new prime minister and leader of the DLP. In elections on May 5, 2005, his party stayed in power.

In 2017, Hurricane Maria struck Dominica. It was the strongest and most damaging hurricane ever recorded there.

President Charles Angelo Savarin was re-elected in 2018. In the 2019 general elections, the Dominica Labour Party won again. This was their fifth win in a row. Roosevelt Skerrit continued to serve as Prime Minister.

Images for kids

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  Le Majestueux at the burning of Rousseau on 22 February 1805

See also

• British colonization of the Americas
• French colonization of the Americas
• History of the Americas
• History of the British West Indies
• History of North America
• History of the Caribbean
• List of prime ministers of Dominica
• Politics of Dominica
• Spanish colonization of the Americas