History of Antigua and Barbuda

Part of a series on the
History of Antigua and Barbuda
Pre-Columbian period
Jolly Beach people Twenty Hill Archaic period in Barbuda Winthorpe's Bay Ceramic period in Saint Mary Ceramic period in Barbuda
Early colonisation
Administrative division Kingdom of Antigua plot Beach's Rebellion
Post-emancipation
1871-1958 1958-1962 1962–1967 Associated State of Antigua
Independence era
Constitution 1994 & 1999 elections Barbudan secession
Caribbean portal
v t e

The history of Antigua and Barbuda covers the period from the arrival of the Archaic peoples thousands of years ago to the present day. Prior to European colonization, the lands encompassing present-day Antigua and Barbuda were inhabited by three successive Amerindian societies. The island was claimed by England, who settled the islands in 1632. Under English/British control, the islands witnessed an influx of both Britons and African slaves migrate to the island. In 1981, the islands were granted independence as the modern state of Antigua and Barbuda.