The Forgotten British Outpost In Belize: A Legacy Unveiled

Belize, a country on the north-eastern coast of Central America, was the site of a British outpost built in 1803. The outpost was established by a group of people called the Garifuna, who were a mix of Carib Indians and Africans exiled from British colonies in the eastern Caribbean St. Vincent. They settled on the southern coast of Belize and established their own villages and culture, predominantly in the towns of Dangriga and Punta Gorda. The Garifuna were among the first to make this region their base of operations, alongside pirates and buccaneers who used the Belize coastline as a hideout.

The British were interested in logwood and mahogany

Mahogany, a type of tropical hardwood indigenous to the Americas, was also highly sought after by the British for its commercial uses. It is valued for its straight-grained, reddish-brown colour, and durable nature. Mahogany was used for a wide variety of goods, including panelling, furniture, boats, and musical instruments. The British Parliament's removal of import duties on timber from British possessions in the 18th century further incentivised the trade of mahogany to Europe and North America, with Britain being the largest consumer.

The shift from logwood to mahogany as Belize's main wood export occurred due to the oversupply of logwood in the market, which caused prices to fall in the 1760s. Mahogany was harder to obtain than logwood as it grew singly and far apart, requiring more labour to extract. This transition to mahogany extraction led to the development of new jobs, such as huntsmen, axe men, and cattlemen, which were often performed by skilled slaves.

Belize was a British colony until 1981

Belize was a British colony until 21 September 1981, when it gained independence from the United Kingdom. However, the country had been moving towards independence since the mid-20th century.

In 1954, constitutional reforms gave Belize limited autonomy, and the People's United Party (PUP) won the subsequent general election. In 1964, a new constitution granted Belize full autonomy and introduced universal adult suffrage and a two-chamber parliament. The country's name was also changed from British Honduras to Belize in 1973.

The road to independence was not without obstacles, however. One major issue was Guatemala's long-standing claim to the entire territory of Belize. In fact, Guatemala repeatedly threatened to use force to take over the country and sent troops to the border region several times during the 1970s. Another issue was the border dispute with Guatemala, which remains unresolved to this day.

Despite these challenges, Belize became an independent nation on 21 September 1981, with George Price as its first prime minister. About 1,500 British troops remained in the country after independence to defend against Guatemalan territorial claims. Guatemala refused to recognise Belize's independence until 1992.

The British defeated the Spanish in the Battle of St. George's Caye in 1798

The British victory over the Spanish in the Battle of St. George's Caye in 1798 was a pivotal moment in the history of Belize. The conflict between the two colonial powers over the territory began as early as the mid-1750s, with Britain recognising Spanish sovereignty over the area in the Treaty of Paris (1763) while securing rights to log in Belize. However, Spain never ceded its interests or delineated boundaries, leading to continued hostility. The Spanish launched several attacks on British settlements in Belize, with the final attempt at expulsion occurring in 1779, after which the settlement was abandoned until 1783.

In the late 18th century, the conflict escalated once more. The Spanish, led by Yucatán Governor and Commander Don Arturo O'Neill Tirone, aimed to take control of St. George's Caye and expel the British. The British forces, known as the Baymen, were a small group of resident woodcutters who fought for their livelihood, assisted by Black slaves. The Baymen appealed to Jamaican Lieutenant Governor Alexander Lindsay for assistance, and he provided them with muskets, ammunition, and a ship, the HMS Merlin, captained by John Moss.

The Battle of St. George's Caye took place from September 3 to September 10, 1798, with the final decisive battle occurring on September 10. The Spanish fleet, consisting of 32 vessels, was much larger than the British force. However, the Baymen, with their knowledge of the local terrain, put up a fierce resistance. The battle lasted for two and a half hours, and the Spanish forces, ravaged by sickness, were forced to withdraw. This marked the end of Spanish attempts to control Belize and solidified its standing as a British colony.

The victory at St. George's Caye is celebrated as a national holiday in Belize, known as St. George's Caye Day, and it holds significant importance in the country's history. It is seen as a heroic contribution by the Baymen and slaves, fighting together to defend their homeland. The battle also ensured that Belize remained a British colony, later becoming a source of hardwood and dyewood for the British Empire.

Belize was formally recognised as a British colony in 1862

Belize, formerly known as British Honduras, was formally recognised as a British colony in 1862. However, the history of British involvement in the region goes back much further.

The first recorded European incursions in the region were made by Spanish conquistadors and missionaries in the 16th century. However, the Spanish never successfully colonised Belize due to resistance from the indigenous Maya people. In the 17th century, British pirates and buccaneers began using the Belize coastline as a base from which to attack Spanish ships. British loggers also began settling along the coast, cutting logwood for dyes and mahogany for shipbuilding. These early British settlers called themselves "Baymen" (after the Bay of Honduras).

Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, the Spanish launched regular attacks on British settlements in Belize. In 1763, the Treaty of Paris granted the British official rights to log in Belize but maintained Spanish sovereignty. In 1798, the Baymen won a decisive military victory over a Spanish fleet off the shores of St. George's Caye, ending Spanish involvement and claims to Belize.

In 1862, Belize was formally declared a British colony, known as British Honduras. It was governed by a lieutenant governor who was subordinate to the governor of Jamaica. However, the colony continued to be administered largely by wealthy landowners and merchants, who dominated the Legislative Assembly and controlled the colony's revenues and expenditures. This period also saw the continued importation of African slaves to British Honduras, as well as the migration of Garifuna, or Black Caribs, who established their own villages and culture along the southern coast.

In 1871, Belize became a crown colony, with the Legislative Assembly being replaced by a Legislative Council appointed by the British monarchy. This change shifted power away from the local settler oligarchy to the boardrooms of British companies and the Colonial Office in London. The new constitution confirmed British Honduras as a source of hardwood and dyewood for the British Empire, with the local economy remaining dependent on resource extraction and imports.

Belize achieved independence in 1981

Belize, formerly known as British Honduras, achieved independence from the United Kingdom on the 21st of September 1981. This was made possible by the Belize Act 1981, an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom, which came into operation on the 28th of July 1981. The Act made provisions for Belize to gain full independence and become a member of the Commonwealth of Nations as a Commonwealth realm.

The road to independence was not without its challenges. One major obstacle was Guatemala's long-standing claim to the entire territory of Belize. Guatemala repeatedly threatened to use force to take over and even sent troops to the border several times during the 1970s. Negotiations between the two countries were unsuccessful, and an agreement could not be reached before independence. However, tensions eventually cooled enough to allow for the granting of Belizean sovereignty in 1981.

Another factor delaying independence was Britain's reluctance to allow self-governance until the early 1960s. In 1964, the British colony of British Honduras was granted internal self-government, and in 1973, the official name of the territory was changed from British Honduras to Belize. Despite these steps towards independence, full sovereignty was not achieved until 1981.

The independence of Belize marked a significant milestone in the country's history and allowed its people to shape their future and determine their own path forward as a nation.

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