Pre 20th Century History

TAround 4000 years ago, Anguilla was a lush island covered in dense rain forest. It was discovered by Amerindian peoples who came by dugout canoes and rafts from South America's mainland. They called Anguilla "Malliouhana" which meant arrow-shape sea serpent and they developed villages at Sandy Ground, Meads Bay, Rendezvous Bay and Island Harbour. The Carib Indians, who eventually overpowered the Arawaks, called the island Malliouhana. The Arawak Indian belief was based on the sun and moon and two sacred caverns, where they believed all of mankind originated. There is much evidence of this belief system in Anguilla's two impressive cave sites located at the eastern end of the island, Big Springs at Island Harbour and The Fountain at Shoal Bay. The Fountain is the Eastern Caribbean's most intact ceremonial site from this period and features a stalagmite carved in the likeness of Jocahu, the Supreme Deity of the Arawak people, petroglyphs and offering bowls. The Fountain is currently closed to the public. The National Parks System, administered by the National Trust, is seeking to develop this historic site into an eco-tourism attraction. Tours of Big Spring can be arranged through the Anguilla National Trust.

Early Spanish explorers named the island Anguilla, which means 'eel', apparently because of its elongated shape.

Modern History

In 1958, St. Kitts -Nevis-Anguilla became part of the Federation of the West Indies. The Federation collapsed in 1962, which resulted in individual constitutions for most islands. In 1967, Britain sought to loosen its colonial ties by lumping Anguilla into an alignment with the islands of St Kitts and Nevis, the nearest British dependencies. The intent was for the three islands to form a new Caribbean nation, the Associated State of St Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla, with Britain continuing to hold the reins on foreign affairs and defense.

Anguillians wanted no part of the new state, which they viewed as subjugation to St Kitts, their more powerful neighbour. Within a few months, the Anguillians had armed themselves and revolted, forcing St Kitts police off the island and blocking the runway to prevent a 'reinvasion' by Kittitian forces.

The British, concerned by the potential for bloodshed, stationed Royal Marines in the waters off Anguilla. After two years attempting to negotiate a solution, British forces invaded Anguilla in 1969. Rather than resisting, the islanders, content that some resolution was in the making, welcomed the first wave of British paratroopers, giving the event the bizarre aura of an Independence Day celebration.

The Anguillians eventually got their way: Britain agreed to drop the idea of an Anguillian union with St Kitts and continued British administration of the island under a modified colonial status that granted Anguilla a heightened degree of home rule. Debates over Anguilla's succession continued to be negotiated for another decade until December 19, 1980, Anguilla became a separate Dependent Territory with some measure of autonomy in Government.