An Exotic Caribbean Jewel of White Sand Beaches
Tropical Blue Skies, and Alluring Turquoise Waters
for Unforgettable Island Vacations
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St. Lucia Island Resorts
Island History - 19th Century St. Lucia
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After many years of bitter conflict, France finally officially ceded St. Lucia to the British in the year 1815. Shortly before, the British abolished the African slave trade in 1807, but it was not until 1834 that slavery itself was actually abolished on St. Lucia. Freed slaves were forced to work for free in a four year "apprenticeship" for their former masters with a final freedom in 1838.
St. Lucia became one of the British Windward Islands in 1838 and was administered by the English headquarters in Barbados, and later Grenada. - St. Lucia from the 1900's to the Present Day
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St. Lucia shows a history of increasing independence throughout the 20th century. In 1924, a constitution gave St. Lucia its first representative government. Universal adult suffrage (the right to vote) was won in 1951 and the elected members became the majority of the representative council as well. A ministerial government was introduced shortly after. St. Lucia then became a part of a couple of successive federations that were partially dependent on the United Kingdom.
From 1967 to 1979 St. Lucia became one of the Caribbean's Associated States. This novel arrangement gave St. Lucia and its sister states full responsibility for internal self-government but left external matters and defense responsibilities to Great Britain.
On February 22nd, 1979 the nation of St. Lucia gained full independence from Great Britain. The island nation continues to recognize the Queen of England as the titular head of state and is an active participant in the British Commonwealth of Nations. St. Lucia continues to be an involved Caribbean neighbor and belongs to several cooperative trade, political, and economic Caribbean alliances.
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