fco_082708 - MARTINIQUE Bon pour 50 Centimes Colonie de la Martinique 1897 sans atelier

MARTINIQUE

Initially populated by the Arawaks and then by the Caribbean, Martinique was discovered in 1502 by Christopher Columbus on his fourth voyage. In 1635, a first colony was established there in the name of the King of France and the Compagnie des Îles d'Amérique. The extension of the plantations led to the eradication of the indigenous Arawak populations. Towards the middle of the 17th century, the tobacco crisis ruined the small white planters and permanently installed an economy based on the monoculture of sugar cane in the hands of rich planters. Those in search of cheap labor turn to slavery. Between 1794 and 1802, then between 1809 and 1814, the Island was occupied by the English. In 1848, slavery was abolished. Planters then resort to indenture. Competing with beet production, this mono-industry was in crisis at the end of the 19th century. In 1902, the eruption of Mount Pelée completely destroyed the town of Saint-Pierre, killing 30,000 people. In 1946, the Island became an Overseas Department.