Saint Vincent and the Grenadines became independent from the United Kingdom, with Milton Cato as the first prime minister. The islands were inhabited by Caribs, who resisted European settlement for many years, and they were disputed between France and Britain until Britain secured control in 1783. In 1797, after a long conflict, the British deported thousands of Garifuna, people of mixed Carib and African ancestry, to the island of Roatan off Honduras, from where they spread along the Caribbean coast of Central America. The colony developed around sugar and later arrowroot. Just before independence, in April 1979, the eruption of La Soufriere volcano forced the evacuation of much of the north of the main island, though there was little loss of life.
Before and after
- from 1979 to 2015One-child policy
- from 1 January 1979 to 1 January 1999Introduction of European Currency Unit
- 1979Establishment of Serra da Capivara National Park
- 1979Moon Treaty
- 1979Founding of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- 1979Establishment of Sangay National Park
- 1979Invention of Bourne shell
- 1979Global life expectancy reaches 60 years
- 13 February 1979Birth of Anders Behring Breivik
More in Civilizations & archaeology
- 1947The Dead Sea Scrolls are found
- 27 February 1967Founding of Saint Kitts and Nevis
- 1 March 1967Founding of Saint Lucia
- 1974Founding of Grenada
- 1978Founding of Solomon Islands
- 1 October 1978Founding of Tuvalu
The era
This moment belongs to the Contemporary world (1945 CE to today), the world since 1945. You can also browse everything in the 20th century.