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Essay on Vanuata By: Sara
The first island in the Vanuatu group was discovered by the Spaniardsin 1606, the Explorer Pedro Fernandez, spied what he thought was a southern ccontinent. Europeans did not return until 1768, when Bouganville rediscovered the islands. In 1774, Cook named the islands the New Hembrides, a name that lasted until independence. In 1825, trader Dillon's discovery of Sandlewood on the island of Erromango began a rush that ended in 1830 after a fight between polynesian workers and melenasians. During the 1860s, planters in Australia & the other islands were in despirite need of labourers, encouraged a long-term indentured labour trade called "black birding". At the height of that, more than one-half the adult male population of several of the Islands worked abroad.
It was at this time that all the missionaries, both Catholic and Protestant arrived on the islands. Settlers also came, looking for land on which to establish Cotton Plantations When international cotton prices collapsed, they switched to other natural recorces, and, most successfully, coconuts Initially, British made up the majority, but the establishment of the Caledonian com. of the New Hebrides in 1882 soon tipped the balance in favor of French subjects. By the turn of the century, the French outnumbered the British two to one. In the 60s France opposed Britain's desire to de-colonize the New Hebrides south of the Solomon Islands fearing that the independence sentiment would be contagious in their rich colonial possessions in French New Caledonia.
The first political party was established in the early 1970s and originally was called the New Hebrides National Party. One of the founders was Walter Lini, an Anglican Priest, who later became Prime Minister. Renamed the Vanua'aku Party in 1974, the party pushed for independence. A Representative Assembly was created in 1975 but dissolved in 1977 after demands for the elimination of government-appointees and immediate independence. In 1979 foreign owners were dispossessed and received compensation from their own governments and a date set for full independence.
France was unhappy. Some significant rebellions occurred on Tanna and Espiritu Santo and paperwork revealed the direct culpability of France in its desire to see Espiritu Santo become a separate French colony. Philippe Allonneau the French representative even succeeded to be recognized as King of Espiritu Santo by the island's tribe chiefs.
On 30 July 1980, amidst the brief Coconut War, the Republic of Vanuatu was created.
Since independence, only kastom owners and the government can own land; foreigners and other islanders who are not kastom owners can lease land only for the productive life of a coconut palm - 75 years.(Wikipedia.com, Melanasianislands.com, historysorce.net)
It was at this time that all the missionaries, both Catholic and Protestant arrived on the islands. Settlers also came, looking for land on which to establish Cotton Plantations When international cotton prices collapsed, they switched to other natural recorces, and, most successfully, coconuts Initially, British made up the majority, but the establishment of the Caledonian com. of the New Hebrides in 1882 soon tipped the balance in favor of French subjects. By the turn of the century, the French outnumbered the British two to one. In the 60s France opposed Britain's desire to de-colonize the New Hebrides south of the Solomon Islands fearing that the independence sentiment would be contagious in their rich colonial possessions in French New Caledonia.
The first political party was established in the early 1970s and originally was called the New Hebrides National Party. One of the founders was Walter Lini, an Anglican Priest, who later became Prime Minister. Renamed the Vanua'aku Party in 1974, the party pushed for independence. A Representative Assembly was created in 1975 but dissolved in 1977 after demands for the elimination of government-appointees and immediate independence. In 1979 foreign owners were dispossessed and received compensation from their own governments and a date set for full independence.
France was unhappy. Some significant rebellions occurred on Tanna and Espiritu Santo and paperwork revealed the direct culpability of France in its desire to see Espiritu Santo become a separate French colony. Philippe Allonneau the French representative even succeeded to be recognized as King of Espiritu Santo by the island's tribe chiefs.
On 30 July 1980, amidst the brief Coconut War, the Republic of Vanuatu was created.
Since independence, only kastom owners and the government can own land; foreigners and other islanders who are not kastom owners can lease land only for the productive life of a coconut palm - 75 years.(Wikipedia.com, Melanasianislands.com, historysorce.net)