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Settled by people from Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, the islands were charted by British Navigator James Cook in 1774, who named them the New Hebrides. In the 1860s, Catholic and Protestant missionaries arrived. Political control was contested by France and Great Britain. In 1906 they set up a joint rule. The islands served as a major Allied staging base in World War II. A brief rebellion by French settlers and plantation workers was quelled by British and French forces in May 1980. The country achieved independence in July 1980, and is a member of the British Commonwealth.<ref name="profile">The Family History Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, “Family History Record Profile: Melanesia,” Word document, private files of the FamilySearch Content Strategy Team, 1987-2000.</ref> | Settled by people from Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, the islands were charted by British Navigator James Cook in 1774, who named them the New Hebrides. In the 1860s, Catholic and Protestant missionaries arrived. Political control was contested by France and Great Britain. In 1906 they set up a joint rule. The islands served as a major Allied staging base in World War II. A brief rebellion by French settlers and plantation workers was quelled by British and French forces in May 1980. The country achieved independence in July 1980, and is a member of the British Commonwealth.<ref name="profile">The Family History Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, “Family History Record Profile: Melanesia,” Word document, private files of the FamilySearch Content Strategy Team, 1987-2000.</ref> | ||
=== Historical Background === | |||
'''B.C. '''The first settlers arrive from New Guinea and the Solomon Islands by canoe.<br>'''1200''' It is part of the kingdom of Tonga.<br>'''1606''' It is visited by the Spanish explorer Pedro Fernandez de Queiro who named them “''Espiritu Santo''.”<br>'''1768''' The Frenchman, Alexandre de Bougainville, put ashore on ''Aoba, Pentecost'', and ''Maewo'' and named them the “''Cyclades''” and named the strait between the islands after himself.<br>'''1774''' Vanuatu is explored by Captain James Cook, who renames them ''New Hebrides'' after the islands off Scotland.<br>'''1800''' English missionaries begin arriving. The population is about one million. Foreigners begin stripping the islands of sandalwood and introducing diseases.<br>'''1860''' Natives are kidnapped to work on sugar and cotton plantations in Queensland, Australia and Fiji.<br>'''1875''' French Tanners, who are Catholic settlers, petition France to annex the islands.<br>'''1876''' English Presbyterian missionaries petition England to annex the islands.<br>'''1887''' The islands were placed under an English and French Naval commission. Records are kept in both French and English.<br>'''1901''' Australia introduces the ''Pacific Islands Labour Bill'', ending the kidnapping (''blackbirding)'' of islanders.<br>'''1906''' A condominium government run by England and France is established.<br>'''1935''' Due to diseases and kidnaping, the native population has fallen to 45,000.<br>'''1940''' Allied forces use the island as a base. Roads are built, and wages are good for the natives.<br>'''1960''' European settlers claim over 30 percent of the land.<br>'''1974''' Mormon missionaries begin proselyting there.<br>'''1978''' The condominium government ceases.<br>'''1980''' The islands become independent as Vanuatu. Most French nationals leave and the land is reverted entirely to the indigenous ''ni-Vanuatu''.<br>'''1991''' A coalition led by Prime Minister Maxime Carlot governs Vanuatu. | |||
'''2008''' There are 3,521 LDS Church members in Vanuatu. | |||
== References == | == References == | ||