Anguilla is an island in the Caribbean that is a British overseas territory. It is located west of the British Virgin Islands and north of St. Martin. The capital is called The Valley. The island, which is surrounded by coral reefs, has a total area of 90 km² and about 15, 754 residents (2013). Anguilla is the northernmost of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles. The island’s territory includes these islands: Anguillita, Dog Island, Prickly Pear Cays, Sandy Island, Scrub Island, Little Scrub, Scilly Cay, Seal Island andSombrero, better known as Hat Island.
With the flat topography of the island, it is also not attracted to rain clouds in the same ways that mountainous islands are. The result is one of the most usual sunny climates in the entire Caribbean. The almost dazzling white sands of the beaches and the beautiful turquoise waters are part of Anguilla’s attraction.
According to Thereligionfaqs, the island has become a popular tax haven that has no capital gains, property, profits or other forms of direct taxation on either individuals or companies. Due to its shape, the island is formerly known as Snake Island.
Religious artifacts and relics from ceremonies (dated: 600-1400 BCE) that have been found in places like Big Springs and the Fountain Cavern suggest that the pre-European residents were extremely religious in nature.
TIMELINE:
1300 BCE – Anguilla was first inhabited by Native American tribes who migrated from South America.
300 – Arawak Indians settle on the island.
1565 – A French explorer, Pierre Laudonnaire, visits the island.
1631 – The Dutch believe they built a small fort on the island. But no remains have ever been found.
1650 – Anguilla was first colonized by English settlers from Saint Kitts at the beginning of the year. They started growing both tobacco and corn. If they were not under attack from Indians, they were attacked by Frenchmen, possibly other Europeans who all loved to plunder.
1656 – Caribbean Indians destroy the settlers’ settlements.
1666 – French forces take over the island. The British later regained control of the island.
1683 – African slaves arrive on the island.
18th century – The island is administered by the British government through Antigua.
1800s – The island experimented with slavery-based plantations, but the soil was too poor to lead to anything good.
1824 – When the island is incorporated into Saint Kitts and Nevis, they become the sole British property, which the residents themselves oppose.
1830s – Slavery was abolished in 1833, and slaves were allowed to use the plantations as they wished. But most plantation owners returned to Europe, leaving Anguilla communities to African farmers and fishermen. At this time, the population dropped from 10,000 to 2,000 people.
1833-1967 – The islanders suffer during the event with St. Kitts. They are getting poorer because of St. Kitts self-interest. The residents are becoming more and more dissatisfied, asking to speak with Britain, but it was overheard.
1871 – Anguilla becomes a federation.
late-1950s-1967 – Tensions between Anguilla and St. Kitts takes over. The eccentric prime minister of St. Kitts, Robert Bradshaw, comes with threats, causing the situation to escalate to boiling point as Anguilla still lives on a subsistence minimum of agriculture and fishing.
1967 – In May, islanders in Anguilla expel the 15-man police force from St. Petersburg. Kitts, and requires direct connection to the UK.
1969 – Anguilla declares an independent republic, with Ronald Webster as president.
1971 – The British government is reinstated.
1976 – Anguilla receives a new constitution that gives the island greater independence.
1980 – Anguilla becomes a “dependent territory”.
1982 – A new constitution written is revised in 1990.
1998 – Hurricane George ravages, wreaking havoc and causing many deaths.
2000 – At the beginning of the year, a new development began to gain momentum thanks to the influx of foreign capital, which made the island a stable parliamentary democracy.
2005 – Anguilla holds parliamentary elections.
2009 – Anguilla competes at the World Athletics Championships in Berlin.