Jamaica is the third largest island (next to Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, and Cuba) within a chain of islands that form the Greater Antilles in the northern area of the Caribbean Sea. The original people of Jamaica (Amerindians) settled for several centuries before Christopher Columbus landed on the island in 1494. In later years, they named themselves Taino (Arawaks) and the island was known as Xaymaca by their neighboring islands. Spain took formal possession of Jamaican in 1509; English captured Jamaica in 1655; the maroons (freed slaves) waged war until 1660. The abolition of slave trade to British colonies ended in 1808; the abolition of slavery dated 1834; and full Emancipation of Slavery ended in 1838. Jamaica remained under the British rule until 1848. However, to govern the country, the Jamaica Labor Party formed in 1943 and the People's National Party formed in 1938. Jamaica claimed their independence from British rule in 1962.
