Fun Trivia : Caribbean

Structure Sub-topic of: Latin America Quizzes Interesting Questions, Facts and Information There are a total of 10 general entries. Special Topics Napoleonic Efforts to Recapture Haiti Kingston, Jamaica Potpourri Taino and Kalinago Dominican Republic History, Part II Vieques: A Chronology of Events History of the Bahamas: Discovery Puerto Rico History Test Jamaica: A Bit of History (1494-1962)

Interesting Questions, Facts, and Information

Caribbean

In 1919, the United States passed what act, that unintentionally allowed the Bahamas to become one of the more prosperous nations in the world during the rum-running years?

At a Glance: A History of Caribbean Nations


Volstead Act. The Volstead Act was passed in 1919 and prohibited the manufacture, transport, and sale or posession of any alcoholic beverages within the United States. The Bahamas became a base for those involved in the illegal manufacturing and transportation of alcoholic beverages to the United States.



Marcus Mosiah Garvey was a black activist and a labor leader. He founded one of Jamaica's first political parties in the late 1920s and was also a key figure in creating a workers association during the early 1930s. The Ras Taffari brotherhood or "Rastafarians" were a political and religious organization in Jamaica that owe their origins and success to Garvey. The Ras Taffari organization began worshipping what African monarch as their god in 1935?

At a Glance: A History of Caribbean Nations


Haile Selassie. Haile Selassie was the last emperor of Ethiopia and ruled from the early 1930s until he was dethroned in 1974. He was known as "Jah" or "god" in the eyes of the Rastafarians. Garvey was seen as a controversial figure to the American government due to his strong and unusual political views. In 1923, he was arrested in Atlanta, Georgia for fraud, and was subsequently shipped to Jamaica in 1927. By 1935, Garvey was in extreme debt, left Jamaica, and moved to Britain where he died five years later.



Barbados was probably named in reference to the fig trees on the island that looked like "large beards". What European sailors first founded Barbados giving it this unique name?

At a Glance: A History of Caribbean Nations


The Portuguese. Portuguese explorer Pedro a Campos discovered the island of Barbados en route to his destination in Brazil. In seeing the fig trees on the island, it is reported that Campos and his crew named the island "Los Barbados" or "Bearded One" as fig trees have natural aerial roots that hang from the tree resembling a bearded figure.



Early Amerindian cultures on the island of St. Lucia commonly referred to this island as "Hewanorra". What is the meaning of this Amerindian word?

At a Glance: A History of Caribbean Nations


Island of the Iguanas. Arawak Indians referred to this island as "Hewanorra" or "Iouanalao". It is possible that they referred to it as this due to a large amount of reptiles situated on the islands. Most historians agree that the Arawak Indians were the first inhabitants of the island of St.Lucia around the year 200 A.D. Sadly, the Arawak culture had become pretty much extinct by 800 A.D. and eventually replaced by the Carib culture. http://www.geographia.com/st-lucia/lchis01.htm



On October 14, 1983, Prime Minister Maurice Bishop was placed under house arrest and was ousted from power during a military coup. What Caribbean nation was he the Prime Minister of?

At a Glance: A History of Caribbean Nations


Grenada. Power was seized by Grenada's former Deputy Minister Bernard Coard during a bloody coup in front of over 1000 American medical students. Coard's strong Marxist views posed a threat and deep concern among various Caribbean nations as well as in Washington D.C. The U.S. Army invaded Grenada on October 25, 1983 and quickly took control of the island. The U.S. Army left Grenada in 1985. President Maurice Bishop, who was freed by many of his supporters, was executed on October 19, 1983.