Let's get independence...
In the end of the 19th century things went fast in Jamaica.
Sir John Peter Grant played an important role in the development of the 'new' Jamaica. Local government was reorganized, education and social services were improved. A modern police-system was formed and judiciary also got a new jacket.
The banana trade was setup and would be the key Jamaica's economy in the 20th century.
Yes, it went pretty good on our island...
The Great Depression
In 1872 Kingston became the new capital (instead of Spanish Town). It was a rough start for the capital. Several fires and an earthquake in 1907 destroyed the city, but it was rebuilt time after time.
When World War I broke out, this wealthy period came to an end. The Great Depression caused fallen sugar prices. The Panama disease destroyed the banana fields, people could not emigrate because of worldwide closed borders. People became dissatisfied.
In 1938 violence and rioting became more and more usually with a tragic peak at Frome in Westmoreland.
Manley vs Bustamante
Out of this agitation came the first political parties. A few men would determine the political structure of Jamaica for the next years.
One of them was Norman Washington Manley, nation's most prominent lawyer, and helper of the foundation of the socialist People's National Party or PNP, not much later in association with the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the National Workers' Union.
The other one was Sir William Alexander Bustamante, leader of the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU). The BITO grew out to the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).
These developments were favorable for all workers. The leaders of the parties had to plead for better working conditions and increased wages. A result of this was the new Constitution in 1944.
But there also was rivalry between Manley and Bustamante. Manley respected the British traditions, but was in the opinion that it was time to forget Britain and get independence.
Bustamante first did not believe in independence and wished the alliance with Britain would be alive and well. But, in the 1950's he changed his mind and from then supported Manley.
Interesting fact is that both political co-stars and National Heroes were cousins and the Prime Ministers Bustamante, Michael Manley (yes, brother of...) and Hugh Shearer came all from the same family... ;-)
The road to independence
In 1959 Jamaica was for a big part self-governing. Only defense and international affairs were handled by the British.
More and more Jamaica developed her own natural recourses. Banana's, bauxite and tourism became money making business and the Jamaicans lead their own life.
The West Indies Federation was established to try a closer association with other British island in the Caribbean. It didn't work. Bustamante declared against the federation. Manley asked the people in a referendum vote for their opinion. Well, that opinion was clear: independence.
In 1962, a new Constitution has been proved. Date of separation: August 6, 1962.
On April 10 Bustamante's JLP won the elections. The country was ready for independence and on August 7, the new parliament was settled.
Bustamante did a perfect job.
There were no racial or class lines. The country finally had a serious political system, which was not based on the power of plantation owners, but on voted leaders.
Bustamante retired in 1967. His separation was Donald Sangster. Unfortunately his sudden death forced the JLP to search a new leader, which was found in Hugh Shearer, a prominent trade unionist.
Seaga
The agriculture was developed extensively. In June 1963 a five-year development plan was introduced by Edward Seaga, the Minister of Development and Welfare. The plan turned out into a success. As Minister of Finance and Planning Seaga had even more success and finally he became Prime Minister in 1980.
In spite of the fact Jamaica had enough resources to make the economy a successful one, it did not work out that way. Main cause of this was the rapidly increasing of the national population.
Even today Jamaica has to deal with much unemployment, a falling economy and finance.
the 20th century 
