Final answer:
Barbados gained its independence from the UK on November 30, 1966, following centuries of colonial rule that began when the English colonized it in 1624.
Step-by-step explanation:
Barbados gained its independence from the UK on November 30, 1966. This significant event came after centuries of colonial rule, during which Barbados was a crucial part of the British Empire due to its profitable sugar production driven by enslaved labor. Initially colonized by the English in 1624, Barbados became the first English colony to rely on enslaved people. Over the years, the abolition of slavery and changing economic conditions led to shifts in the island's society and economy. The quest for autonomy paralleled other British colonies' independence movements, culminating in Barbados' independence in the mid-20th century.