New
New
Year 9

Decolonisation in the Caribbean

I can explain events leading to independence for Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago in 1962.

New
New
Year 9

Decolonisation in the Caribbean

I can explain events leading to independence for Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago in 1962.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The 1930s saw unrest in Britain's Caribbean colonies, including strikes and riots over living and working conditions.
  2. The Moyne Report recognised these conditions, recommending political and economic reforms.
  3. In 1944, a new constitution was made for Jamaica which gave the country greater autonomy and self government.
  4. Britain unsuccessfully attempted to unite its Caribbean colonies into the West Indian Federation (1958-62).
  5. In 1962, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago were granted independence from Britain, with many states following suit.

Common misconception

All Caribbean countries gained independence from Britain at the same time.

Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago were the first of Britain's Caribbean colonies to achieve independence in 1962, however, the last British colony in the Caribbean to gain independence was Saint Kitts and Nevis in 1983.

Keywords

  • Plantation - a large estate on which cash crops, such as sugar cane, are grown

  • Autonomy - having the freedom to make your own decisions and control your own affairs without outside interference

  • Constitution - the basic principles or laws which govern a nation state

  • Self government - when people in a community or region make their own decisions about laws, policies, and leadership without outside control

  • Federation - a system where different states or regions come together to form a single, larger organisation, while still keeping some control over their own local affairs

Pupils could watch a British Pathe film 'Jamaican Independence' (1962) and comment on how the British media presented Jamaica's decolonisation. Pupils could compare their answer to Task C with the narrative presented in the film.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
  • Depiction or discussion of serious crime
  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Loading...

6 Questions

Q1.
What was the primary reason Britain struggled to maintain control of its African colonies after World War II?
Lack of interest from British leaders
Correct answer: Financial strain and pressure from the USA
The support of European allies
Strong economic growth in Britain
Q2.
Who were the two prominent leaders at the 1945 Pan-African Congress that later became leaders of newly independent African nations?
Nelson Mandela and Julius Nyerere
Correct answer: Kwame Nkrumah and Jomo Kenyatta
Robert Mugabe and Patrice Lumumba
Haile Selassie and Thomas Sankara
Q3.
The British Prime Minister's "Wind of Change" speech acknowledged the growing momentum for across Africa.
Correct Answer: independence, Independence
Q4.
What triggered the Accra Riots in 1948 in the Gold Coast?
The arrest of Kwame Nkrumah
The announcement of British withdrawal
Correct answer: The shooting of ex-soldiers by British police
The signing of the Balfour Declaration
Q5.
The violent Mau Mau Uprising in Kenya was primarily a reaction to the displacement of the people from their fertile land.
Correct Answer: Gikuyu, gikuyu
Q6.
Why did the British government encourage white settlers to establish large-scale farms in Kenya?
To promote local agriculture
To create jobs for the local population
Correct answer: To grow cash crops for export
To improve relations with native Kenyans

6 Questions

Q1.
What was the main crop grown on plantations in Britain's Caribbean colonies during the 17th century?
Cotton
Correct answer: Sugar
Tobacco
Coffee
Q2.
Which economic event in the 1930s caused widespread unemployment and poverty in Britain's Caribbean colonies?
The Great Famine
The Industrial Revolution
The Great Depression
Correct answer: The Cold War
Q3.
In 1938, the British government sent a team led by Lord to investigate the social and economic challenges in the Caribbean colonies.
Correct Answer: Moyne, moyne
Q4.
What significant political change was introduced in Jamaica in 1944?
Independence from Britain
Correct answer: Universal suffrage (voting rights for all adults)
The creation of the West Indian Federation
The abolition of slavery
Q5.
The West Indian Federation was dissolved in after Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago decided to leave.
Correct Answer: 1962
Q6.
Who became the first Prime Minister of independent Jamaica in 1962?
Norman Manley
Eric Williams
Correct answer: Alexander Bustamante
Marcus Garvey

Additional material

Download additional material
We're sorry, but preview is not currently available. Download to see additional material.