History of Trinidad and Tobago

The History of Trinidad and Tobago

Key Dates

• Pre-Columbian era: The archipelago is inhabited by Arawak and Carib Indians, who were almost entirely wiped out by Europeans and diseases.

• 1498: The island of Trinidad is discovered by Christopher Columbus during his third voyage to the Americas.

• 1532: Spain officially takes possession of Trinidad and begins its colonization. A few decades later, the English take an interest in the neighboring island of Tobago.

• 17th century: Throughout the century, Trinidad and especially Tobago see rivalries and change hands between the Spanish, French, English, Dutch, and even the small Duchy of Courland in the case of Tobago.

• 1678: Finally, with the Treaty of Nijmegen, France is recognized as the authority over Trinidad and Tobago.

• 1797: The two islands are conquered by the English, to whom they are officially assigned by treaties in 1802 for Trinidad and 1815 for Tobago. However, the two are separated, with Tobago then attached to the Windward Islands colony, formed by other British islands in the Lesser Antilles.

• 1834: The abolition of slavery gradually leads to the arrival of new labor, particularly Indian and Chinese, in the archipelago.

• 1899: For convenience, Tobago is administratively attached to the island of Trinidad to form a single colony called Trinidad and Tobago.

• Late 19th–early 20th century: The colony experiences its "golden age" thanks to cocoa, of which it was one of the world's leading producers at the time, before facing competition from African production.

• 1962: Trinidad and Tobago gains independence from England.

• 1976: The archipelago becomes a republic within the British Commonwealth.

• 1990s: The country experiences economic growth, notably due to oil revenues.

• 2000s: With some delay compared to other islands in the region, Trinidad and Tobago develops its tourism sector. This complements the still substantial revenues from oil, petrochemicals, and natural gas.