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Exploration
English, French, and Spanish start exploring the Guyanas. -
Disputes Between English and Dutch
Disputes erupted between English and Dutch. Resulting of the 1667 Treaty of Breda, the Dutch kept modern-day Suriname, and the English were left with a then trading post New Amsterdam, now known as New York City. -
Society of Suriname Formed
The Society of Suriname was formed by city of Amsterdam, the Van Aerssen van Sommelsdijck family, and the Dutch West India Company. They managed and defended the Suriname colony. -
Slaves ran away and worked with Native South Americans
From the 1700 to the 1800s, many slaves escaped with the help of Native South Americans they made their own successful culture, known now as the Maroons. Maroons would often raid the plantations, they would recruit new members, take women, weapons, food and supplies. Raids were usually deadly for the plantation owners and families and they lost many supplies and people. -
Maroons Accepted Into Culture
After many failed fights and stands against the Maroons, the European government signed multiple peace treaties in order to settle their differences. In the 19th century, the Dutch government gave the Maroon people a sovereign status with the Dutch. -
Abololition of Slavery
After free, the slaves left in an exodus to Paramaribo, the capital city of Suriname. Suriname was now without workers, and it was a mainly plantation-based economy. Netherlands managed to bring contract labourers from the Dutch East Indies, now Indonesia and the Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh states of India. The Dutch had to make a deal with the English for the labourers from India, as at that point it was one of England's major colonies. -
Contract Labourers Arrive
Since Suriname had no one to work on their plantations, Chinese and Middle Eastern men were brought for work on the farms. Because of this, Suriname became one of the most culturally and ethnically diverse countries of the world. -
United States temporarily occupy Suriname
The newly found Bauxite mines had no one to protect it either, so the United States was made a deal to protect Suriname with some of their military. -
Limited Self-Government
In 1954, the Dutch gave Suriname limited self-government, but at the same time the Netherlands still kept control of defense and foreign affairs. -
Negotiations Start for Independence
The local government, known as the NPK (a largely Creole group), met with Dutch Authorities and started negotiations with Netherlands for full independence. -
Independence from Netherlands!
On November 25, Netherlands calmly grant full independence to Suriname people. They also granted them a large severance package to start their economy. The first decade of independence had an economy that was fueled by foreign aid (money) provided by Dutch government.
The first Surinamese president was Johan Ferrier and Henck Arron was the first prime minister
Many Surinamers thought Suriname would do badly after independence from the Dutch, so 250K Surinamese people emigrated to Netherlands. -
Military Coup Overthrows Government
A military cup overthrew the Democratic government
and declared a socialist republic. -
December Killings
The military under charge of Desi Bouterse, arrested important citizens, accused for treason against government (Political opponents.) They were executed in the night, and Netherlands instantaneously cut off financial support due to the December killings
Desi Bouterse is still standing for trial for December Killings for 1982, because many political opponents were assasinated. -
Civil War Breaks Out
Ongoing civil war between Suriname Army and Maroons began in 1986 between rebels loyals to rebel leader, Ronnie Brunswijk, and the Suriname Army loyal to Desi Bouterse. The civil war weakened the power of Desi Bouterse even more. -
Telephone Coup
A new constitution had been formed in 1987 that allowed Desi to keep charge of army. Dissatisfied, he dismissed the entire government over the phone, now known as the “telephone coup” After the 1991 Elections his power started to wane. -
World Heritage Site
Central Suriname Nature Reserve became a World Heritage Site. -
Desi Bouterse Re-Elected
Bouterse gets re-elected despite murder charges for December Killings, drug smuggling chrages in absentia by the Netherlands, and sentenced to 11 years in jail.