page_title: Territorial evolution of the Caribbean
section_title: Twentieth century
hierarchical_section_title: Territorial evolution of the Caribbean / Twentieth century
context_page_description: This is a timeline of the territorial evolution of the Caribbean and nearby areas of North, Central, and South America, listing each change to the internal and external borders of the various countries that make up the region.
  The region covered is the Caribbean, its islands, and the surrounding coasts, as well as the southern part of the Gulf of Mexico, Florida, Central America, and the northern region of South America.
  The political evolution of the land surrounding the Caribbean reveals the significant role the region played in the colonial struggles of the European powers since Christopher Columbus arrived in 1492. In the 20th century the Caribbean was again important during World War II, in the decolonization wave in the post-war period, and in the tension between Communist Cuba and the United States. Genocide, slavery, immigration and rivalry between world powers have given Caribbean history an impact disproportionate to the size of this small region.
context_section_description: 1902
  Theodore Roosevelt, who had fought in the Spanish–American War and had some sympathies with the independence movement granted the Republic of Cuba formal independence on May 20, 1902, with the independence leader Tomás Estrada Palma becoming the country's first president. Under the new Cuban constitution, however, the U.S. retained the right to intervene in Cuban affairs and to supervise its finances and foreign relations. Under the Platt Amendment, Cuba also agreed to lease to the U.S. the naval base at Guantánamo Bay.
  1903
  The Hay–Bunau-Varilla Treaty was signed on November 18, 1903 (two weeks after Panama's independence from Colombia on November 3, 1903). Philippe Bunau-Varilla went to Washington, D.C. and New York City to negotiate the terms with several U.S. officials, most prominently, Secretary of State John Hay. The two men negotiated the terms of sale for the building of a Panama Canal.  No Panamanians signed the treaty although Bunau-Varilla was present as the diplomatic representative of Panama (a role he had purchased through financial assistance to the rebels), despite the fact he had not lived in Panama for seventeen years before the incident, and he never returned.
  1906
  Cuba was placed under U.S. occupation and a U.S. governor, Charles Edward Magoon, after a rebellion led by José Miguel Gómez.
  1909
  Elections were held in 1908 when José Miguel Gómez was elected President.  Self-government for Cuba was restored in 1909.
  1915
  The first United States occupation of Haiti began on July 28, 1915 and ended in mid-August, 1934.
  1916
  The United States begins its occupation of the Dominican Republic from 1916 to July 1924.  By November of the same year they proclaim a military government.
  1917
  On March 31, 1917, the United States purchased Saint Croix, Saint John and Saint Thomas from Denmark for US$25 million, renaming them the United States Virgin Islands.
  1924
  The United States ends its occupation of the Dominican Republic. Horacio Vásquez Lajara defeated Francisco J. Peynado and with his inauguration on July 13, 1924 America ends its control.
  1934
  On August 15, 1934 the last American Marines leave Haiti which again becomes an independent nation.
  1940
  Aruba became a British protectorate from 1940 to 1942.
  1942
  Aruba became a USA protectorate from 1942 to 1945.
  1945
  Aruba reverts back to Dutch control.
  1958
  The West Indies Federation, also known as the Federation of the West Indies, was a short-lived Caribbean federation that existed from January 3, 1958 to May 31, 1962. It consisted of several Caribbean colonies including Turks and Caicos Islands, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla, Montserrat, Dominica, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago.
  1962
  With the dissolution of the West Indies Federation a number of countries decided to go alone and declare independence: 
  On August 6, Jamaica 
  On August 31, Trinidad and Tobago
  1964
  On January 1, 1964 British Honduras became a self-governing colony in January 1964 and was renamed "Belize" on June 1, 1973; it was the United Kingdom's last colony on the American mainland.  The constitution of 1964 established internal self-rule but Guatemalan claim to sovereignty over the territory of Belize delayed full independence until 1981.
  1965
  After a period of political instability following the assassination of long-time Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo the American seize control of the Dominican Republic.
  1966
  Barbados gains independence from the UK on November 30, 1966 .
  Guyana achieved independence on May 26, 1966 from the UK, and became the Co-operative Republic of Guyana on February 23, 1970 - the anniversary of the Cuffy slave rebellion - with a new constitution.
  American leave the Dominican Republic and end the military occupation.
  1969
  British rule was fully restored to Anguilla in 1969.
  1973
  On July 10, 1973, the Bahamas became fully independent from the UK, but retained membership in the Commonwealth of Nations.
  1974
  On February 7, 1974 Grenada gains independence from the
caption: The United States also created the American controlled, Panama Canal Zone.[89]
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