The West Indies Federation

The West Indies Federation was a short-lived political union formed in 1958, uniting several Caribbean islands—including Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, and others—aimed at promoting regional self-governance and independence from British rule. It was an attempt to create a single, cohesive political entity to strengthen their collective influence and development. However, internal disagreements, economic differences, and differing national identities led to its collapse in 1962. Despite its brief existence, the Federation laid groundwork for individual Caribbean nations pursuing independence and regional cooperation in the decades that followed.