West African American Culture During The 1800's

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During the disturbance caused by the transition from Spanish to English rule in 1655, many of the West African slaves escaped. These escaped slaves developed their own separate culture based on their West African roots. These people were known as the Maroons. The British were never able to recapture them. They were granted political independence in 1739. Their culture still exists today in modern Jamaica, a tribute to their skills and determination. There were many successes during the British rule during the 1800’s. Food supplies and a constant threat from the French and Spanish invasion lowered Jamaica’s manufacturing. A major internal conflict included the Maroon wars in the 18thcentury. This was a period of time where escaped slaves planned