<P> It was fortuitous that the Cédula was issued only a few years before the French Revolution . During that period of upheaval, French planters with their slaves, free coloureds and mulattos from the neighbouring islands of Martinique, Saint Lucia, Grenada, Guadeloupe and Dominica migrated to Trinidad, where they established an agriculture - based economy (sugar and cocoa). These new immigrants established local communities in Blanchisseuse, Champs Fleurs, Paramin, Cascade, Carenage and Laventille . </P> <P> Trinidad's population jumped to over 15,000 by the end of 1789, from just under 1,400 in 1777 . By 1797, the population of Port of Spain had increased from under 3,000 to 10,422 in five years, and consisted of people of mixed race, Spaniards, Africans, French republican soldiers, retired pirates and French nobility . The total population of Trinidad was 17,718, of which 2,151 were of European ancestry, 4,476 were "free blacks and people of colour", 10,009 were slaves and 1,082 Amerindians . The sparse settlement and slow rate of population - increase during Spanish rule (and even during British rule) made Trinidad one of the less populated colonies of the West Indies, with the least developed plantation infrastructure . </P> <P> In 1797, a British force led by General Sir Ralph Abercromby launched the invasion of Trinidad . His squadron sailed through the Bocas and anchored off the coast of Chaguaramas . The Spanish Governor Chacón decided to capitulate without fighting . Trinidad thus became a British crown colony, with a French - speaking population and Spanish laws . British rule was formalized under the Treaty of Amiens (1802). </P> <P> British rule led to an influx of settlers from the United Kingdom and the British colonies of the Eastern Caribbean . English, Scots, Irish, German and Italian families arrived . Under British rule, new estates were created and the import of slaves did increase, but this was the period of abolitionism in England and the slave trade was under attack . Slavery was abolished in 1833, after which former slaves served an "apprenticeship" period which ended on 1 August 1838 with full emancipation . An overview of the populations statistics in 1838, however, clearly reveals the contrast between Trinidad and its neighbouring islands: upon emancipation of the slaves in 1838, Trinidad had only 17,439 slaves, with 80% of slave owners having fewer than 10 slaves each . In contrast, at twice the size of Trinidad, Jamaica had roughly 360,000 slaves . </P>

Who brought about independence to trinidad and tobago