St. Kitts & Nevis - History

Columbus came upon the islands of St. Kitts and Nevis on his second voyage to the New World, in 1493. Because the cloud-covered peak of the smaller island reminded him of the snow-covered Pyrenees, he named it "Nieves", which in Spanish means "snows". The larger island he named St. Christopher, either after himself or the patron saint of travellers; the British later shortened the name to St. Kitts.

The great explorer sailed on and the fierce Carib Indians who lived there had the islands to themselves for another century. In 1623, a group of English settlers arrived and established themselves at Old Road Town in St. Kitts. Two years later, a troupe of French settlers showed up and with the British, wiped out the Caribs. The French and English then divided the island amongst themselves. A few years later, in 1629, they collaborated again to thwart a Spanish invasion.

Having firmly established themselves on St. Kitts and Nevis, both empires then set their sights on the neighbouring islands, and St. Kitts became known as the "mother colony of the West Indies". From there, British settlers sailed on to colonize Antigua, Barbuda, Tortola and Montserrat, while the French headed to Martinique, Guadeloupe, St. Martin, St. Barts, La Dιsirade, and Les Saintes. Meanwhile, on Nevis, plantations were established for the cultivation of tobacco, cotton, ginger and indigo. In 1640, however, came the introduction of sugarcane and Nevis' settlers soon focused on production of the sweet, profitable crop, importing slaves from Africa to work the plantations. Over time, Nevis's sugar trade grew so prosperous that the island became known as "the Queen of the Caribbees". It was also perhaps the Caribbean's first spa resort, as many tourists flocked there in the 18th century to visit its hot springs. Nevis' prosperity began to decline, however, in 1834--the year that slavery was abolished on the islands.

Although the French and British lived peacefully on St. Kitts and Nevis in the early years of settlement, they eventually battled for control of the islands, and continued to do so until England was finally granted rule in the Treaty of Versailles, in 1783.

In 1967, the two islands, together with Anguilla, became an Associated State of Great Britain, and as such were allowed self-government. Then in 1983, the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis became an independent nation within the British Commonwealth. Its government is a constitutional monarchy with a prime minister and a cabinet, and a governor general who represents the queen. The islands still retain many traditions of the British who settled and developed them. For instance, cricket is a favourite pastime, motorists drive on the left, and although attire worn on the island is resort casual, it is still considered conservative.

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