Conquest and Defeat

In 1655, the fight over full-ownership of Jamaica began. Britian seized Jamaica under the leadership of Admiral William Penn and General Robert Venables. (A) The British then proceeded to remove the Spanish settlements and inhabitants from the island. However, before this task could be completed, many Spaniards escaped and formed communities.(B) The buccaneers that came from Britain to settle in Jamaica gave the Spanish relentless trouble by attacking Caribbean cities, but this managed to keep Spanish revolts in check. This also secretly posed a threat to the Spanish and the silver and gold trade because the buccaneers caused chaos within the Spanish military system(A) Then, when the Spanish finally recognized British power and their own defeat, after 15 years of conflict and war, the Treaty of Madrid was formed and Jamaica finally surrendered to the British in 1670. 

However, after the Treaty of Madrid in 1670, the buccaneers that were used to keep the Spanish in line were being suppressed on the island.(A) Also, The Royal African Company began a slave market that would soon be known as the busiest trade in the world.[This is also discussed later in Colonial Experience and Internal Affairs.]