History and Politics of Antigua

  Antigua was earliest settled dating back to 2400 B.C. by antiquated hunter-gather Amerindians known as the Ciboney (meaning "stone people"). After the Ciboney had migrated elsewhere, an agricultural group called Arawaks resettled the land around 35-1100 A.D. but they were eventually displaced by the Caribs. The first European contact with Antigua generated when Christopher Columbus discovered the island amidst his second voyage in 1493 and named it after Santa Maria la Antigua, the saint of Seville. However, displeased with the lack of clean water and Carib resistance, Columbus voyaged onwards and, so, it was not until 1632 that Antigua was settled by the English. In 1684, Sir Christopher Codrington approached the islet in hopes of chartering the land for large-scale sugar production, noting that it proved successful elsewhere in the Caribbean. Codrington's efforts flourished and, by the mid eighteenth century, Antigua cultivated over 150 plantations including Betty's Hope Sugar Plantation - the first large plantation on Antigua built by Codrington himself and named for his daughter - which still stands today as a completely restored sugar mill. Even now, Antigua's distinguished sugar dependence causes a lack of diversity in the economy and, as a result, most of the islands' food is imported from Britain. Moreover, the enclave's infamous past of slavery explains the majority Afro-Antiguan population of the island today as well as the Creole culture that radiates throughout it. For example, although English is technically the official language of the island, the vast majority speaks Antiguan Creole. Additionally, Music in Antigua is largely forged by African culture as reflected by the indispensable calypso and steel band characteristics of modern popular tunes. The result of creolization is especially prominent in Antigua's religious beliefs and practices where Christian denominations coalesce with African influences, as presented in the methodology of worship and even the music heard in church.

Under British rule, slavery controlled the economy therefore, after its abolition in 1834, the economy endured a harsh recession, worsened by a simultaneously occurring series of natural disasters. Although slavery was technically eradicated, working conditions for the formerly enslaved peoples - particularly those under sugar plantation owners - were cruel nonetheless. These horrid circumstances inspired an array of revolts in the early 1900s which prompted the formation of the Antigua Trades Labor Union (ATLU). Furthermore, the involvement of the ATLU combined with its underlying political initiative elicited the Antigua Labor Party, led by Vere Cornwall Bird Senior. Antigua was originally part of the Leeward Islands Colony but, after its defederation in 1956, the archipelago sought refuge with the West Indies Federation during its brief existence from 1958 until 1962. Afterwards, the island became a status of association with the Commonwealth. When Antigua finally gained independence on November 1st, 1981, V.C. Bird became the nation's first prime minister. In 1994, Sir Vere Cornwall Bird Sr.'s son, Lester Bird Junior, succeeded him as Prime Minister, allowing the Bird family to remain in power over the next twenty years, thus marking their legacy a significant aspect of Antigua's history.

By the end of the eighteenth century, Antigua had transformed into a valuable commercial colony as well as a crucial strategic port, known as the "gateway to the Caribbean." Most of Antigua's historical sites, specifically the architecture of English Harbortown and Shirley Heights, serve as a remembrance of the British Navy's base and observation post during colonial times. Visitors today can tour Dow Hill's Interpretation Center (located near Shirley Heights) to view a remarkable presentation of the island's thorough history. Likewise, guests can explore St. John (the capital of Antigua) and tour the Museum of Antigua and Barbuda to learn about the archipelago's antiquity. Also based in St. John is the grand St. John's Cathedral, a historical landmark first built in 1683 and last rebuilt in 1845. Overall, Antigua's rich history is protuberant amidst the island. From its vibrant culture to its breathtaking landmarks, Antigua remains one of the most magnificently distinct destinations in the world.

Sources

“Antigua.” The Virtual Caribbean Library, ggccaribbean.wpengine.com/listing/antigua-and-barbuda/.

Antigua and Barbuda / Exploring Antigua and Barbuda, www.antigua-barbuda.org/Agpnt01.htm.

“Antigua and Barbuda History.” The History of Antigua and Barbuda in Writings, Photographs, and Stories, antiguahistory.net/index.html.

“History of Antigua and Barbuda.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 19 Feb. 2021, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Antigua_and_Barbuda.

“Politics of Antigua and Barbuda.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 28 Feb. 2021, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Antigua_and_Barbuda.