Jamaica has had a long history with many different rulers. In 900 CE, the Taino people inhabited the land that is now Jamaica. Over the centuries, the island was ruled by both the Spanish and English before achieving independence in 1962. The Taino established an economy centered around farming and fishing, but that later ended in 1509. This was when the Spanish arrived. They were armed with advanced weapons and devastating diseases, and the Spanish forced the Taino out of their land and ruled for the next 150 years. They brought enslaved Africans to Jamaica, which ultimately shaped the island's ethnicity. Today, approximately 92 percent of Jamaica's population identifies as African, reflecting a lack of ethnic diversity. Following Spanish rule, the British took control for more than 300 years and maintained a brutal system of slavery. In 1833, slaves fought back; they created the Emancipation Act, which ended slavery in 1837 in what is now known as Jamaica. After World War II, Jamaica won independence from England and became its own country. Jamaica’s first prime minister was Alexander Bustamante, who served for 5 years. The government still struggled a lot economically even after the first-ever prime minister. There were many wars during the fight for independence, including the Baptist War and the two Maroon Wars. Jamaica’s unique and complicated history has formed the country that is known and loved today.