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Prior to 1492, Turks & Caicos Islands were inhabited by
the Lucayans, who were part of the Taino culture, an Arawak speaking people.
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1492
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Columbus' Landfall in the West Indies
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| 1678 |
Beginning of settling of Bermudans |
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1753
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French captured islands from the Spanish after Bermudians worked on salt ponds.
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| 1764 |
Turks Islands became an official possession of the British
Crown. |
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1766
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Turks Islands placed under jurisdiction of the Bahamian government, with a King's Agent appointed to ensure British government's wishes prevailed.
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| 1791 |
Establishment of Customs House to enforce British government's
wishes prevailed. |
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1793
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Introduction of Local Board of Assembly to assist King's Agent in Island's affairs
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| 1799 |
Islands placed under the control of the British Colonial
Administration with a representative from the Turks Islands elected to
the Bahamas House of Assembly. |
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1834
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Slaves received Emancipation on August 1.
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| 1844 |
Two petitions were sent to the Bahamas House of Assembly
requesting separation. |
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1845
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Introduction to a change in the lease hold system due to emancipation (Salt Pans).
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| 1848 |
The 1847 Separation Act was passed, establishing the Islands
as a separate colony independent of the Bahamas and Bermuda.
Caicos Islands were recognised as a part of the colony, and a self-governing council was elected to govern the Turks and Caicos Islands under a Crown Appointed President, supervised through Jamaica.
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1874
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Islands were formally declared a Crown Colony and a dependency
of Jamaica (until 1962 when it became a British Colony). |
| 1951 |
Salt industry was taken over by Government and came to
a close in 1970. |
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1959
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The Turks and Caicos Islands' new constitution was introduced on July 4.
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