Movements towards independence and regional integration up to 1985
OBJECTIVES
By the end of the lesson, you should be able to:1. Describe the attempts at unification up to 1962 and reasons for its failure.
2. Describe the constitutional steps towards independence in the British-colonised territories.
3. Discuss the constitutional arrangements in the French and Dutch Antilles and Puerto Rico.
Hi, guys. This week’s lesson has been done in a multiple-choice format to assist with your exam preparations.
1. Which of the following individuals was the prime minister of the West Indies Federation? a) Uriah Butler b) Robert Bradshaw c) Grantley Adams d) Cheddi Jagan
2. Which of the following Caribbean countries experienced assimilation? a) Haiti, Martinique, St Croix b) Guadeloupe, Martinique, St Eustatius c) Dominica, Haiti, St John d) Martinique, Guadeloupe, French Guiana
3. The term ‘tripartite kingdom’ is best associated with the a) French Caribbean b) Dutch Caribbean c) Portuguese Caribbean d) Spanish Caribbean
4. Which Caribbean territory is an associated state of the United States of America? a) Puerto Rico b) Cuba c) Mexico d) Venezuela
5. In response to Jamaica’s withdrawal from the West Indian Federation, Eric Williams uttered the following statement: a) One minus ten equals nine. b) One minus ten equals zero. c) One plus ten equals eleven. d) One country cannot carry the federation. 6. Which of the following factors BEST explains why a West Indian Federation was promoted?
i. Federation could allow for greater progress in regional economic development.
ii. The federations of Canada and Australia provided clear examples of political unions within the British Empire.
iii. Federation was seen as a necessary first step in the direction of an advanced political status for British Caribbean territories.
a) i only b) ii only c) ii and iii only d) i, ii and iii
7. In what year did Jamaica hold a referendum on the question of its continued involvement in the West Indian Federation? a) 1961 b) 1963 c) 1962 d) 1951
8. What factors accounted for the collapse of the federation of the West Indies?
i. The federal government had too-weak powers and lacked sufficient impact on the everyday life of the people.
ii. Contact among the constituent units of the federation was hampered by inadequate and expensive means of transportation and communication.
iii. Jamaica and Trinidad believed that their continued participation meant slower economic development.
iv. The federal structure was an expensive model of government.
a) i, ii and iii only b) i and iii only c) ii and iii only d) i, ii, iii and iv
ANSWERS
1. C 2. D 3. B 4. A 5. B 6. D 7. A 8. A
RESOURCE MATERIAL
1. A Post-Emancipation History of the West Indies – Isaac Dookhan