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Montserrat’s early history has much in common with its Caribbean neighbors, although there are some differences. Like many of its sister islands, Montserrat was formed millions of years ago by volcanic eruptions, giving the island its picturesque mountain ranges and black sand beaches.
Its first known inhabitants were Saladoid Amerindians. They left traces of their way of life, which have been studied by archaeologists at several sites on the island, most of which, however, now fall in the unsafe volcanic zone. The best known and most thoroughly studied of these sites was at Trants, near the now abandoned W H Bramble Airport. Here, several skeletons were found, as well as many artifacts dating back as far as 500 AD. The Amerindians named the island Alliouagana, or "land of the prickly bush," which was probably named for the aloe plant. This name has been revived and used by several cultural groups in modern times.
Christopher Columbus sailed by Montserrat in 1493, although he did not land here. He named the island after the abbey of Santa Maria de Montserrate, located in a mountainous region of Spain, which he felt had a similar appearance. At that time the island was reportedly deserted, although Carib Amerindians subsequently raided the island from time to time from nearby Guadeloupe.
The first European settlers arrived around 1632, and were probably Irish Catholics from nearby St. Kitts, fleeing persecution for their religion. Catholics from Virginia joined them, and Montserrat gradually became a refuge for Catholics of Irish decent. It has been noted that Irish people of all walks of life came to Montserrat, from wealthy landowners to poor indentured servants. These people gave Montserrat its now familiar name "The Emerald Isle of the Caribbean," and several aspects of the island’s heritage are attributed to the Irish. These include place names, surnames, the local accent (supposedly similar to an Irish brogue), and perhaps certain cultural and food items.
The governing power, however, was England, with some short periods when the French took over. The wars between the European countries were at their height, and these spilled over to the Caribbean. Remnants of fortifications with canons remind us of these times, although some of these are now inaccessible in the volcanic area.
Tobacco was one of Montserrat's principal early crops, but was soon replaced by sugar. From the mid-1600s until 1834 came the tragic period of slavery, when thousands of Africans were shipped to the Caribbean to work on the booming sugar plantations. These people lived and perished on the sugar estates, enduring the harshest of conditions while they boosted the economy of the "mother country." They were the ancestors of the majority of Montserrat's present-day inhabitants.
There was one documented slave uprising in 1768. St. Patrick’s Day was chosen because landowners would be distracted with the celebrations. Although unsuccessful the rebellion is significant, since it underlined the desire of the population to strive for freedom. It is commemorated every year on St. Patrick’s Day with a good humored week of colorful activities, which also highlight the Irish heritage.
Slavery was abolished in 1834, but it would be many years before the population was able to shake off the legacy of poverty and deprivation. During the early days of this century, cotton was the main crop. The rise of the trade union movement in the 1940s and '50s paved the way to universal suffrage and the modern political and social structure seen today. The island remains a British Overseas Territory, with a British governor and a locally elected government.
In 1989 modern comfort was disrupted when Hurricane Hugo struck, ripping roofs off buildings, gutting homes and ruining the infrastructure. It took several years to repair this damage. By 1995, a new state-of-the-art hospital was built, as well as government headquarters, legislative council, roads and other infrastructure. People had finally rebuilt their homes.
But most of this effort and expense was to come to nothing. As if to add insult to injury, the volcano in the southern mountains became active in 1995, reaching its height in 1997 when Plymouth (the capital), as well as all southern and eastern villages, was destroyed. Residents of these areas were relocated to the north, while many migrated to Britain and elsewhere, more than halving the population.
However around 5000 people remain and are participating in the redevelopment of the island. Today, the volcano is still active, but the expert team of scientists and technicians who monitor its every move say that the risk for northern areas is negligible. It is likely that for a while it will continue to impact those areas already destroyed, while causing occasional ash falls in more northern areas.
In the meantime the island is rebuilding in the north, there’s a positive and hopeful spirit, and residents are busy getting on with their lives. Things are looking up, and the many building and development projects funded by Britain attest to a positive outlook for the future. The Centre Hills in the safe north are lush and green, and the volcano is not even visible from most areas in the north, although it can be viewed from certain places. There is lots to see and do in this "off the beaten track." holiday or business destination if you choose to look for it. So come, and see for yourself.
For in-depth historical information, Montserrat - History of a Caribbean Colony is highly recommended reading. It is written by the Montserratian scholar and historian, Professor Sir Howard Fergus. For a quicker read, with general information and some history, try Montserrat - Emerald Isle of the Caribbean by the same author. In addition, the Montserrat National Trust has recently produced an excellent videotape entitled The History of Montserrat - its Challenges, Opportunities and Achievements. The Trust also has a Chronological History of Montserrat, concentrating on the 20th century.
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