Islands of the

Caribbean

“West Indies”

Original inhabitants – Native Indians.

Columbus made 1st landfall in New World in 1492 on Samana Cay in the Bahamas. 1st settlement on Hispaniola (Haiti/DR)

European colonists devastate native population. Called West Indies.

Brought in millions of African slaves to work on plantations.

Caribbean Archipelagos

Islands are peaks of underwater mountains, volcanoes, or formed of coral.

Archipelago – chain of islands

Three Archipelagos –Greater Antilles

Lesser Antilles

Bahamas

Bahamas

29 islands, 661 cays.

#1 source of income = Tourism

85% African, 12% European

Cuba

Communist Country, rough history with U.S.

Fidel Castro – dictator for 50 years

Most populated of the Island Nations

90 miles south of Florida

Jamaica

Former British Colony

Ind. In 1962

Known for Tourism, Music (Reggae)

High murder rate

Jerk Chicken, Rastafari

Haiti

Former French Colony

Primary language - French

Majority African descent

Poorest country in the Western Hemisphere

Devastated by Earthquake in 2010

Dominican Republic

Home to Spain’s first capital in New World

Spanish colony, Ind in 1844

#1 Caribbean tourist country

Dance – Merengue

Sport - Baseball

Puerto Rico

Commonwealth of the U.S.

Natives are U.S. Citizens

Cannot vote in presidential election

Do not pay federal income taxes