When did British Guiana become a colony of Great Britain?
Great Britain officially acquired the three colonies through the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1814. Full consolidation into the single colony known as British Guiana occurred in 1831.
Questions about British Guiana
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What was the main economic activity during the colonial era of British Guiana?
The economy relied entirely on sugarcane cultivation and processing for most of the colonial era. Enslaved workers of mostly sub-Saharan African descent provided the labor required to produce sugar until emancipation in the 1830s.
Who won the elections held on the 27th of April 1953 in British Guiana?
The People's Progressive Party won 18 of 24 House of Assembly seats in elections on the 27th of April 1953. Britain suspended the constitution and militarily occupied the colony on the 9th of October 1953 due to fears of communist influence.
How much disputed territory did the arbitration tribunal award to British Guiana in 1899?
An arbitration tribunal convened in Paris in 1898 issued its award in 1899. The tribunal awarded approximately 94 percent of disputed territory to British Guiana.
When did British Guiana officially gain independence from Great Britain?
Independence became official at midnight on the 26th of May 1966. Riots and strikes from 1962 to 1964 delayed full independence until negotiations concluded.