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Quizzes > History

Jamaican history quiz: Black history and culture

Quick, free quiz with Jamaican history questions and answers. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Xain KhanUpdated Aug 28, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Layered paper art of Jamaican culture with tropical foliage historical motifs on golden background for Black History quiz

This Jamaican Black history quiz helps you check your knowledge of key people, events, and culture from Jamaica. Get instant results and see the correct answers as you go, then explore more with our cultural heritage quiz, HBCU quiz, and US history quiz.

When did Jamaica gain independence from Britain?
January 1, 1954
August 1, 1962
July 31, 1976
August 6, 1945
Jamaica became an independent nation on August 1, 1962, ending over 300 years of British colonial rule. The date is celebrated annually as Independence Day. Before independence, Jamaica was a British crown colony. Independence was granted through the Jamaica Independence Act 1962 by the British Parliament.
Who is considered the father of Jamaican nationalism, having founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association in 1914?
Samuel Sharpe
Norman Manley
Paul Bogle
Marcus Garvey
Marcus Garvey founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) in 1914, aiming to unite people of African descent worldwide. He promoted black pride, economic self?sufficiency, and the back-to-Africa movement. Garveys ideas influenced later civil rights and pan-African leaders.
What is the largest ethnic group in Jamaica?
Mixed race
East Indian descent
European descent
African descent
About 90% of Jamaicans are of African descent, the result of the islands history of transatlantic slavery. Other ethnic groups include East Indian, Chinese, European and mixed heritage. Jamaicas diversity is reflected in its culture, food and music.
Which musical genre originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s and became a global phenomenon?
Dancehall
Ska
Calypso
Reggae
Reggae emerged in Jamaica in the late 1960s, evolving from ska and rocksteady. Its characterized by offbeat rhythms and socially conscious lyrics. Bob Marley popularized reggae worldwide in the 1970s.
What is the name of the Jamaican Maroon leader who negotiated a peace treaty with the British in 1739?
Accompong
Cudjoe
Quao
Nanny of the Maroons
Cudjoe led the Leeward Maroons in western Jamaica and signed the 1739 peace treaty with the British, granting them autonomy in the Cockpit Country. Nanny of the Maroons was a leader in the Windward region but did not sign that treaty. The treaties recognized Maroon settlements and ended open warfare.
Which rebellion in 1760 was one of the largest slave uprisings in Jamaican history?
Baptist War
Tackys War
Morant Bay Rebellion
Christmas Rebellion
Tackys War occurred in 1760, led by an enslaved African named Tacky, and involved hundreds of rebels attacking plantations. It was one of the largest and most significant uprisings on the island. The rebellion was suppressed, but it heightened security measures for slave populations.
Which Jamaican national hero was known as The Black Moses for leading the 1831 rebellion?
Paul Bogle
Edward Jordon
Samuel Sharpe
George William Gordon
Samuel Sharpe, a Baptist deacon, organized the Christmas Rebellion of 183132 against slavery and was called 'The Black Moses' for leading his people toward freedom. He was executed in 1832, and his actions helped accelerate abolition. Sharpe is one of Jamaicas national heroes.
On which day is Jamaicas Emancipation Day observed?
July 31st
August 1st
March 10th
January 1st
Emancipation Day in Jamaica is observed on August 1st, marking the anniversary of the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 coming into effect in 1834. It is a national public holiday honouring the end of slavery in the British Empire. Celebrations include cultural events and historical commemorations.
Who was the first Jamaican-born Governor-General of Jamaica?
Sir Kenneth Blackburne
Sir Florizel Glasspole
Sir Clifford Campbell
Sir Howard Cooke
Sir Clifford Campbell, appointed in 1962, was the first Jamaican-born Governor-General after independence; Sir Kenneth Blackburne was the last colonial governor and first governor-general but not Jamaican-born. Sir Florizel Glasspole and Sir Howard Cooke succeeded Campbell. The position represents the British monarch in Jamaica.
Which religious movement emerged in Jamaica in the early 1930s emphasizing repatriation to Africa and worship of Haile Selassie?
Rastafari
Revivalism
Spiritual Baptists
Pentecostalism
The Rastafari movement began in Jamaica during the early 1930s, following the coronation of Ethiopias Haile Selassie in 1930. Rastafarians view Selassie as divine and promote repatriation to Africa. The movement grew out of Marcus Garveys back-to-Africa teachings.
The Morant Bay Rebellion of 1865 was led by whom?
Samuel Sharpe
Marcus Garvey
Norman Manley
Paul Bogle
Paul Bogle, a Baptist deacon, led the Morant Bay Rebellion in October 1865 to protest injustice and poverty. The uprising was brutally suppressed, prompting constitutional reforms. Bogle is commemorated as one of Jamaicas national heroes.
Which Jamaican newspaper, founded in 1834, is one of the oldest continuously published newspapers in the Western Hemisphere?
Jamaica Observer
Caribbean Times
The Gleaner
Jamaica Herald
The Gleaner was first published in 1834 by John Castello and is among the oldest continuously published newspapers in the Western Hemisphere. It has chronicled Jamaicas history from colonial times to the present. The paper remains a leading news source on the island.
Which Jamaican-born poet is considered a leading figure of the Harlem Renaissance?
Derek Walcott
Louise Bennett-Coverley
Claude McKay
Marcus Garvey
Claude McKay was born in Jamaica in 1889 and became a central figure in the Harlem Renaissance, celebrated for works like 'If We Must Die' and 'Home to Harlem.' His writing addressed racial and social issues in both Jamaica and the United States. McKays legacy bridges Caribbean and African American literary traditions.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Key Historical Events -

    Understand and recall pivotal moments in Jamaican history, such as the Maroon Wars and the fight for independence, through targeted black history questions.

  2. Recognize Influential Figures -

    Spotlight trailblazing Jamaicans like Paul Bogle and Nanny of the Maroons by answering Jamaican black history quiz items.

  3. Analyze Cultural Contributions -

    Examine how music, language, and traditions have shaped Jamaican society, reinforcing your grasp of Jamaican history trivia questions.

  4. Evaluate the Role of Black History Month -

    Reflect on the importance of black history month trivia questions in celebrating and preserving Black heritage on the island.

  5. Apply Knowledge Through Interactive Quiz -

    Test and strengthen your understanding by engaging with challenging black history trivia quiz questions designed for both novices and enthusiasts.

  6. Deepen Appreciation for Jamaican Heritage -

    Foster a deeper respect for Jamaica's culture and legacy by uncovering stories behind key events and figures.

Cheat Sheet

  1. The Maroon Wars and Treaty of 1739 -

    The First and Second Maroon Wars (1728 - 1740) shaped Jamaican resistance, culminating in the 1739 treaty granting autonomy to escaped Africans. Remember "Queen Nanny's Victory" as a mnemonic, honoring Nanny of the Maroons and the Maroons' guerrilla tactics taught at University of the West Indies archives.

  2. Triangular Trade and Jamaica's Economy -

    Jamaica was pivotal in the transatlantic slave trade, supplying sugar and rum in exchange for enslaved Africans. Use the "Triangle = Trade" mnemonic to recall how ports in London, West Africa, and Kingston connected - an essential fact for any Jamaican black history quiz.

  3. Emancipation Act of 1834 and Apprenticeship -

    The British Emancipation Act freed enslaved people in Jamaica on August 1, 1834, but the apprenticeship system delayed full freedom until 1838. Mark "April to August '38" to master dates for black history month trivia questions and understand the phased path to liberation.

  4. Marcus Garvey and UNIA -

    Marcus Garvey founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association in 1914, promoting "One God, One Aim, One Destiny." His influence on pan-Africanism and back-to-Africa ideals is highlighted in scholarly journals from Harvard and the Schomburg Center.

  5. Rastafari Movement and Cultural Legacy -

    Emerging in the 1930s, Rastafari honored Emperor Haile Selassie I and emphasized African roots, Ital diet, and reggae music as cultural expression. Recall "RASTA = Roots Africa Spiritual Truth Awareness" to nail Jamaican history trivia questions and gain insight into its global impact.

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