Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) Caribbean History Practice Exam 2026 – Complete All-in-One Guide for Exam Success!

The correct answer is that Spain was the first European nation to establish control over sugar production in the Caribbean. In the late 15th and early 16th centuries, shortly after Columbus's arrival in the Caribbean, the Spanish began to cultivate sugarcane in their colonies. The fertile land and favorable climate of the Caribbean proved to be ideal for sugar cultivation, leading to the establishment of plantations.

Spain's early efforts in sugar production were primarily focused on its colonies in the Lesser Antilles and parts of Hispaniola, where they began exporting sugar back to Europe. The wealth generated from sugar became an important aspect of the Spanish colonial economy and set the stage for the future development of sugar as a major cash crop in the Caribbean.

Over time, other European nations, such as the French, English, and Portuguese, became involved in the sugar trade and established their own plantations, often in competition with Spain. However, it was Spain that initiated sugar production in the region, influencing both the economy and the social structure of colonies, including the introduction of enslaved Africans to work on these plantations, which dramatically impacted the Caribbean's demographic and cultural landscape.