1627	-	Dominica and other islands were granted by patent to the 
		Earl of Carlisle who was a Proprietor.

1748	-	Pressure from France led to the Treaty of Aix-La-Chapelle
		which forced the British to give up claims to the islands 		of the 1627 Patent including Dominica.

1763	-	Dominica was ceded to Britain by the Treaty of Paris. The 
		Royal Proclamation establishes "Government of Grenada" with 
		jurisdiction over Grenada, the Grenadines, St. Vincent, 
		Tobago and Dominica - one Governor and one Legislature for 
		the group.

1768	-	Separate Legislative Assembly established in Dominica. 

1778	-	The French repossessed Dominica. The Legislative Assembly 
		continued to function as usual.

1783	-	The French returned Dominica to Britain by the Treaty of 
		Versailles.

1784	-	Governor Orde convenes Assembly to deal with internal 
		Maroon revolt.

1831	-	Full political and social rights granted to free non-whites.

1833	-	Dominica grouped in the Leeward Islands administrative 
		union under one Governor.

1838	-	Mulatto Ascendancy form a majority in House of Assembly of 
		Dominica, the first in the British West Indies.

1871	-	Administrative union of the Leeward Islands converted to a 
		constitutional Federation - with a federal Executive Council
		nominated by the Governor and a federal Legislative Council 
		consisting of ten (10) nominated members and ten (10) 
		elected members elected by the unofficial members of the 
		legislatures of the member islands. Dominica administered by 
		a President (later titled "Commissioner" and subsequently 
		"Administrator").

1898	-	Crown Colony Rule is introduced in Dominica with Sir Hesketh 
		Bell as its first Administrator.

1922	-	The Wood Commission visits and makes possible the election 
		of four (4) members to unofficial side of legislature.

1932	-	The Closer Union Commission further weakened Crown Colony 
		Rule and set the basis for the West Indies Federation of 
		1958.

1938	-	The Moyne Commission visits and makes possible union and 
		party formation in Dominica.

1940	-	Dominica withdrawn from the Leeward Islands constitutional 
		Federation and placed in the Windward Islands Administrative 
		Union.

1945	-	First Trade Union formed in Dominica, to wit, the Dominica 
		Trade Union.

1951	-	(1)   Universal Adult Suffrage introduced, replacing 
			property-ownership or payment of taxes as 
			qualifications for voting.

		(2)   Qualification for membership on the Legislative 
			Council reduced.

		(3)	Legislative Council with a clear elected majority 
			established - consisting of two (2) ex-officio, 
			three (3)nominated and eight (8) elected members, 
			with Administrator having a casting vote.

1955	-	The First Representative Party was formed - The Labour Party 
		of Dominica.	

1956	-	(1)	Ministerial system introduced.  The Legislative 
			Council remained unchanged, but a fourth elected 
			member was 	included in the Executive Council - 
			three of whom were appointed Ministers on a majority 
			vote of elected nominated members of Legislative 
			Council and removable on majority vote of whole 
			Legislative Council.  One (1) ex-officio member was 
			added but the official member was to be appointed 
			only if requested by Executive Council.

		(2)	The British Caribbean Federation Act 1956 was passed 
			enabling Her Majesty in Council to provide for the 
			Federation of the West Indian Colonies of which 
			Dominica was one.	

1957	-	(1)	The West Indies Federation was constituted under the 
			West Indies (Federation) Order in Council 1957 which 
			was brought into operation in Dominica on the 3rd day 
			of January, 1958 by the West Indies (Federation) 
			(Commencement) Order in Council 1957. 

		(2)	The Second Representative Party was formed - The 
			Dominica United Peoples Party.

1960	-		Dominica had its first Chief Minister.

1962	-		With the dissolution of the Federation by the West 
			Indies Act 1962, Dominica was restored to its 
			original status.

1967	-	(1)	Dominica granted Associated Statehood - virtual 
			independence, with Defence and External Affairs in 
			the hands of the U. K. Government. 

		(2)	Dominica had its first Premier. 

		(3)	New Constitution sets up legislature consisting of 
			eleven (11) elected, three (3) nominated and an ex-
			officio member (the Attorney General if a public 
			officer) and the Speaker of the House of Assembly 
			(if not a member of the House).

1978	-	Full independence attained under a republican Constitution. 
		Unicameral legislature consisting of twenty-one (21)
		elected and nine (9) nominated members - with a Prime 
		Minister and Cabinet based on the Westminster model.