Encyclopedia/3. History, Societies & Civilizations/09. Modern Nations/02. Americas • Curated by Admin Timeline.sg
History of Trinidad and Tobago (AI-generated, sourced to Wikipedia).
Chronological Storyline (26 Milestones)
5000 BCE
First peoples arrive
Hunter-gatherers from South America settle in Trinidad, establishing the earliest known human presence on the islands. Source — Wikipedia, "Trinidad and Tobago":
Flag of Trinidad and Tobago By See File history, below, for details., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=343763
250 BCE
Saladoid people migrate
Arawakan-speaking Saladoid peoples arrive from the Orinoco basin, introducing agriculture and pottery to the islands. Source — Wikipedia, "Trinidad and Tobago":
Flag of Trinidad and Tobago By See File history, below, for details., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=343763
Jul 31, 1498 CE
Columbus sights Trinidad
Christopher Columbus arrives at Trinidad during his third voyage, naming the island for the Holy Trinity and encountering indigenous Carib and Arawak peoples. Source — Wikipedia, "Trinidad and Tobago":
Columbus sights Trinidad By Sebastiano del Piombo - This file was donated to Wikimedia Commons as part of a project by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. See the Image and Data Resources Open Access Policy, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=27554267
1592 CE
Spanish settlement founded
Spanish colonizer Antonio de Berrio establishes the first permanent European settlement at St. Joseph, securing Spain's claim to Trinidad. Source — Wikipedia, "Trinidad and Tobago":
Mohammed Ali Jinnah Memorial Mosque, St. Joseph, Trinidad. By Grueslayer - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=36195711
1783 CE
Cedula of Population
Spain issues the Cedula of Population, inviting French Catholic planters and their enslaved Africans to settle Trinidad, dramatically transforming the island's demographics and economy. Source — Wikipedia, "Trinidad and Tobago":
Flag of Trinidad and Tobago By See File history, below, for details., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=343763
Feb 18, 1797 CE
British capture Trinidad
A British force under Sir Ralph Abercromby captures Trinidad from Spain with minimal resistance, beginning British colonial rule over the island. Source — Wikipedia, "Trinidad and Tobago":
Flag of Trinidad and Tobago By See File history, below, for details., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=343763
Mar 25, 1802 CE
Trinidad ceded to Britain
The Treaty of Amiens formally cedes Trinidad to Britain, confirming British sovereignty over the island after five years of military occupation. Source — Wikipedia, "Trinidad and Tobago":
painting depicting the signing of Treaty of Amiens, between France and Britain, signed by Joseph Bonaparte and Charles Cornwallis By Jules-Claude Ziegler - https://www.histoire-image.org/etudes/paix-amiens-25-27-mars-1802, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=25334504
1814 CE
Tobago ceded to Britain
The Treaty of Paris permanently cedes Tobago to Britain, ending centuries of the island changing hands among Dutch, French, and British colonizers. Source — Wikipedia, "Trinidad and Tobago":
Flag of Trinidad and Tobago By See File history, below, for details., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=343763
Aug 1, 1834 CE
Slavery abolished
The British Emancipation Act takes effect, freeing enslaved Africans in Trinidad and Tobago, though a system of apprenticeship delays full freedom until 1838. Source — Wikipedia, "Trinidad and Tobago":
Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom from 1816 to 1837 used by King George III, George IV and William IV “ Quarterly, First and Fourth Gules three lions passant guardant in pale Or armed and langued Azure (for England), Second quarter Or a lion rampant within a double tressure flory counter-flory Gules (for Scotland), Third quarter Azure a harp Or stringed Argent (for Ireland), over all an inescutcheon, ensigned by an arched royal crown, Tierced per pale and per chevron, First Gules two lions passant guardant Or (for Brunswick), Second Or semée of hearts Gules a lion rampant Azure (For Luneburg), Third Gules a horse courant Argent (For Hanover), an inescutcheon over all three, Gules the Crown of Charlemagne Proper (As Archtreasurer of the Holy Roman Empire), the whole surrounded by the Garter; for a Crest, upon the Royal helm the imperial crown Proper, thereon a lion statant guardant Or imperially crowned Proper; Mantling Or and ermine; for Supporters, dexter a lion rampant guardant Or crowned as the Crest, sinister a unicorn Argent armed, crined and unguled Proper, gorged with a coronet Or composed of crosses patée and fleurs de lys a chain affixed thereto passing between the forelegs and reflexed over the back also Or; Motto 'Dieu et mon Droit' in the compartment below the shield, with the Union rose, shamrock and thistle engrafted on the same stem. ” PINCHES, J.H & R.V., The Royal Heraldry of England, 1974, Heraldry Today. By Sodacan - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10952335
May 30, 1845 CE
Indian indentured laborers arrive
The ship Fatel Razack brings the first 225 Indian indentured laborers to Trinidad, beginning a migration that would bring over 140,000 Indians and profoundly shape the island's culture. Source — Wikipedia, "Trinidad and Tobago":
Flag of Trinidad and Tobago By See File history, below, for details., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=343763
1857 CE
First oil well drilled
The Trinidad Lake Petroleum Company drills the island's first commercial oil well near La Brea, launching the petroleum industry that would dominate the economy. Source — Wikipedia, "Trinidad and Tobago":
Flag of Trinidad and Tobago By See File history, below, for details., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=343763
1876 CE
Tobago Crown Colony
After financial collapse and a local uprising, Tobago is reduced to a British Crown Colony, ending its period as a separate self-governing legislature. Source — Wikipedia, "Trinidad and Tobago":
Map of Trinidad and Tobago, showing major islands and towns. By CIA - CIA, The World Factbook, 2004 (internet version), Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=44895
1889 CE
Trinidad and Tobago united
Britain administratively unites Trinidad and Tobago as a single colony, linking the two islands' governance for the first time. Source — Wikipedia, "Trinidad and Tobago":
Flag of Trinidad and Tobago By See File history, below, for details., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=343763
Mar 23, 1903 CE
Water Riots erupt
Protests against a new water tax turn violent in Port of Spain; the Red House burns down and at least 16 people are killed by police, galvanizing political consciousness. Source — Wikipedia, "Trinidad and Tobago":
Flag of Trinidad and Tobago By See File history, below, for details., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=343763
Jun 19, 1937 CE
Labour riots sweep Trinidad
Oilfield and sugar workers led by Tubal Uriah Butler launch strikes and protests that turn violent, killing several and forcing the British government to address labor conditions. Source — Wikipedia, "Trinidad and Tobago":
Flag of Trinidad and Tobago By See File history, below, for details., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=343763
1946 CE
Universal adult suffrage
Trinidad and Tobago holds its first elections under universal adult suffrage, a major step toward self-government and democratic representation. Source — Wikipedia, "Trinidad and Tobago":
Results by constituency of the 1946 Trinidad and Tobago general election. By FelipeRev - Own work, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=164252807
Jan 24, 1956 CE
PNM founded
Eric Williams founds the People's National Movement, which wins elections later that year and leads the country to independence under Williams's vision of anticolonial nationalism. Source — Wikipedia, "Trinidad and Tobago":
Flag of Trinidad and Tobago By See File history, below, for details., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=343763
1958 CE
Joins West Indies Federation
Trinidad and Tobago becomes a founding member of the West Indies Federation, a short-lived political union of British Caribbean colonies with Port of Spain as its capital. Source — Wikipedia, "Trinidad and Tobago":
Federal flag of the West Indies Federation, 3 January 1958 to 31 May 1962 By Stepshep - Own work based on: http://www.crwflags.com/FOTW/FLAGS/gb-carib.html, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=499457
Aug 31, 1962 CE
Independence achieved
Trinidad and Tobago gains full independence from Britain, with Eric Williams as its first Prime Minister, joining the Commonwealth as a sovereign nation. Source — Wikipedia, "Trinidad and Tobago":
Flag of Trinidad and Tobago By See File history, below, for details., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=343763
Apr 1, 1970 CE
Black Power Revolution
Mass protests by students and workers demanding economic empowerment for Afro-Trinidadians paralyze the country for weeks, leading to a state of emergency and army mutiny. Source — Wikipedia, "Trinidad and Tobago":
Flag of Trinidad and Tobago By See File history, below, for details., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=343763
Aug 1, 1976 CE
Becomes a republic
Trinidad and Tobago becomes a republic within the Commonwealth, replacing the British monarch with a president as head of state while remaining in the Commonwealth. Source — Wikipedia, "Trinidad and Tobago":
Flag of Trinidad and Tobago By See File history, below, for details., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=343763
Sep 25, 1976 CE
Hasely Crawford wins gold
Sprinter Hasely Crawford wins Trinidad and Tobago's first Olympic gold medal in the 100 meters at the Montreal Olympics, becoming a national hero. Source — Wikipedia, "Trinidad and Tobago":
1975 Press Photo Olympic track athlete Hasley Crawford wins 60 yd dash, AAU meet Caption: (NY26) NEW YORK, Feb 28 CRAWFORD SCORES UPSET IN 60 YARD DASH-Trinidad Olympian Hasley Crawford foreground, finishes out front to win the 60 yard dash event of the National Amateur Athletic Union Track and Field Championships Friday at New York's Madison Square Garden. Steve Williams, in lane two, ran second. Time on Crawford, who attends the Eastern Michigan University, was 6.0 seconds. Williams, a San Diego resident who holds the world 100-meter record, finished in 6.1. In background, is Houston McTear of Northwest Florida club, who was an also ran. (AP wirephoto) (See AP Sports Story)(hmb62100red) 1975 By Associated Press - [1], Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=61647924
Jul 27, 1990 CE
Jamaat coup attempt
The Jamaat al Muslimeen, a Muslim group led by Yasin Abu Bakr, storms Parliament and takes the Prime Minister and cabinet hostage in a failed coup that leaves 24 dead. Source — Wikipedia, "Trinidad and Tobago":
Eternal Flame and 1990 Coup Attempt Memorial, The Red House, Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago By Albert Sydney - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=34170287
Apr 18, 1994 CE
Brian Lara's record innings
Trinidadian cricketer Brian Lara scores 375 runs against England, breaking the world record for the highest individual Test cricket innings and putting Trinidad on the sporting map. Source — Wikipedia, "Trinidad and Tobago":
Rahul Bose and Brian Lara at the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon 2012 pre bash. By Bollywood Hungama - http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/more/photos/view/stills/parties-and-events/id/1401382, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=50350064
2006 CE
World Cup qualification
The Trinidad and Tobago national football team qualifies for the FIFA World Cup for the first time in the country's history, reaching the 2006 tournament in Germany. Source — Wikipedia, "Trinidad and Tobago":
Flag of Trinidad and Tobago By See File history, below, for details., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=343763
May 26, 2010 CE
First female PM
Kamla Persad-Bissessar becomes Trinidad and Tobago's first female Prime Minister after her People's Partnership coalition wins a decisive election victory. Source — Wikipedia, "Trinidad and Tobago":
