The History of Anguilla

  

    Anguilla is located north of the Leeward Islands and begins the downward curve of the long chain of Caribbean islands. The Amerindians or specifically the Arawaks were the first inhabitants to settle on the island around 2000 BC. The island of Anguilla was then called “Malliouhana” which meant “Sea Serpent”.

    There have been some assumptions that Christopher Columbus had discovered the island in 1493 but there was no documentation of his “adventure”. It was not until 1565 French Explorer Pierre Laudonnaire gave Anguilla its name “Anguille” which meant “eel shaped”. This discovery led to the decline of the Amerindians population through enslavement, introduction of diseases never heard of and mass killings.

    In 1650, Anguilla was first colonized by the English located on St. Kitts but in 1656, they were killed by a group of Caribs. Anguilla along with many of the Caribbean islands were in the constant battle of power between the French, Dutch, Spanish, English etc. Until about 1800, the battle of power over Anguilla was between the English and French but in 1688, Irish colonizers attacked with some coexisting with the islanders. The French also tried to take over Anguilla twice in 1745 and 1796 and both times they were unsuccessful.

    Because slavery was abolished, plantation owners were forced to move back to Europe leaving their land behind. In 1824, the British government placed Anguilla under St. Kitts-Nevis authority but this did not sit well with the Anguillans currently living there. They protest and rebelled because they thought that the Kittian government did not take them seriously. They also made request and petitions, but they were being ignored. The British government was called to intervene because Anguillans decided to attack St. Kitts since acting civilized was “ghetto”. July of 1971 was when the Anguilla Act was passed putting Anguilla under the British but on December 19, 1890 Anguilla was officially separated from St. Kitts reign. Ever since then Anguilla has been a British territory.

Adoption Islands:

Suriname

Anguilla

Dominica

Culture of Anguilla - History, People, Traditions, Women, Beliefs, Food, Customs, Family, Social. https://www.everyculture.com/A-Bo/Anguilla.html. Accessed 22 February 2021.

Virtual Caribbean Library. https://ggccaribbean.wpengine.com/listing/suriname-2/. Accessed 22 February 2021.