Sixth Grade
Worksheets
Independence Day in Jamaica
Independence Day in Jamaica
Reading Comprehension for August 6
In the Caribbean Sea is a colorful island nation. Through many years, this nation's history has been through much change and much difficulty. It is a country full of many different kinds of people with many different backgrounds. From one end of the island to another is a very exciting and diverse culture. Although there are many different kinds of people there, it is a close community. Jamaicans are proud to be Jamaicans, and they are very proud of their independence.
Many hundreds of years ago, the Arawak Amerindians lived alone on the island. That is, until 1494, when Christopher Columbus landed on the island. Columbus was exploring "new" lands for the Spanish royal family. He called Jamaica "the fairest isle mine eyes ever beheld." Columbus' arrival signaled the beginning of many hard years for Jamaica.
Like other European countries that ruled Jamaica, the Spanish were interested in how much money they could make. The Spanish enslaved many natives and forced them to work on farms. In the 1650s, the British took control of Jamaica from the Spanish, and the slavery continued. In fact, it got worse. Much worse.
