Caribbean Islands
The West Indies
Dominica
Discovered by Columbus in 1493, it was claimed by both Britain and France until 1815, when Britain asserted its sovereignty. In 1967, Dominica became a self-governing member of the West Indies Associated States. Today, it lists French patois as a major language.
Grenada
Columbus explored this island in 1498. The French colonized the island in 1650 through extermination of the Caribs and then began planting tobacco and indigo. It was claimed as a French territory in 1674. In 1762, it was taken by the British and ceded to Britain by the Treaty of Paris. In 1779, the French retook the island but it was then returned to Britain in the Treaty of Versailles. In 1977, Grenada gained independence and is listed as having some French patois spoken in the country.
Guadeloupe
Discovered by Columbus in 1493, France began colonization in 1635. In 1958, Guadeloupe voted in favor of the new Constitution of the French Fifth Republic and remained an Overseas Department of the French Republic. French and Creole patois are the two major languages in the territory.
Haiti
Discovered by Columbus in 1492, Haiti became a French possession known as Saint Dominique in 1697. In 1801, as a result of slave revolts, the country declared its independence but was suppressed by Napolean Bonaparte, though, only until 1804. After their independence, they assumed the aboriginal name Haiti. French and Creole are listed as the major languages of this country.
Martinique
Discovered by Columbus in 1502, it was taken for France in 1635. In 1958, Martinique voted in favor of the new Constitution and the French Fifth Republic and thus remained an Overseas Department of the French Republic. It lists French and Creole patois as the major languages spoken.
Saint Lucia
Discovered by Spain in 1503, the English tried twice to take the island but failed due to native Carib Indian attacks. France succeeded to colonize the island through treaties with the Caribs in 1660. Saint Lucia keeps major trade relations with the U.K., the U.S., and other Caribbean countries. This country is labeled as speaking a patois that is of French influence.
Saint Vincent& the Grenadines
Discovered by Columbus in 1498, the British claimed the islands in 1627 but left it to the Caribs until it was ceded to the British crown in 1763. The French took the island in 1779 and held it until 1783 when it was given back to Britain in the Treaty of Versailles. French allies from Martinique aided the Caribs in a revolt in 1795. The following year, the British troops retook the island. In 1958, St. Vincent and the Grenadines gained independence. Today, they keep trading relations with the U.K., the U.S., and Canada. This country lists some French patois as being spoken in the area.
Trinidad and Tobago
Claimed for Spain and named by Columbus in 1498, the territory experienced raids by French, Dutch, and English privateers. In 1783, many immigrants came from France and Haiti. The Treaty of Amiens in 1802, gave the islands to France, but they were later ceded to Britain in 1814 through the Treaty of Paris. The countries list French, Hindi, and Spanish as major languages spoken with English as the official language.
U.S. Virgin Islands
Columbus was believed to have been there in 1493. During the 17th century, the Dutch, the English, the French, and the Spaniards claimed parts of the territory. The Danes had the first permanent European settlement in 1672. Until 1733, the French had been inhabiting the area of St. Croix, when they sold it to the Danes due to slave revolts. The territory lists Creole as a major language.