Editing Saint Lucia (section)

===20th century===
Saint Lucia's first representative government was introduced in 1924, with the first election taking place in 1925.<ref>{{cite web |title=Electoral History – Saint Lucia |url=http://www.electoral.gov.lc/about-elections/levels-of-government/electoral-history |access-date=10 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160605232442/http://www.electoral.gov.lc/about-elections/levels-of-government/electoral-history |archive-date=5 June 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-13 |title=Electoral History |url=https://www.sluelectoral.com/about-elections/levels-of-government/electoral-history/ |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=Saint Lucia Electoral Department |language=en-US}}</ref> Many Saint Lucians served during the [[Second World War]], and the conflict visited the island directly during the [[Battle of the Caribbean]], when a German [[U-boat]] attacked and sank two British ships in [[Castries]] harbour on 9 March 1942.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Digital |first1=V. P. |title=Remembering What to Never Forget |url=https://thevoiceslu.com/2014/11/remembering-what-to-never-forget/ |access-date=13 February 2023 |work=St. Lucia News From The Voice |agency=The Voice SLU |publisher=The Voice SLU |date=17 November 2014 |archive-date=13 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230213203327/https://thevoiceslu.com/2014/11/remembering-what-to-never-forget/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The United States used the island as a military hub during the war, including setting up a [[NAF St. Lucia|secondary naval base]] in [[Gros Islet]] and using what is now the [[Hewanorra International Airport|island's international airport]] as an [[United States Air Force|air force]] base.

Universal suffrage was introduced in 1951 and elections [[1951 Saint Lucian general election|were held]] the same year.<ref>{{cite web |title=Saint Lucia observes Universal Adult Suffrage |url=https://www.govt.lc/news/saint-lucia-observes-universal-adult-suffrage |website=Saint Lucia – Government Web Portal |access-date=12 February 2023 |archive-date=12 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230212133357/https://www.govt.lc/news/saint-lucia-observes-universal-adult-suffrage |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1958, Saint Lucia joined the [[West Indies Federation]], although the federation was dissolved just a few years later in 1962.<ref>{{cite web |title=Saint Lucia – Countries – Office of the Historian |url=https://history.state.gov/countries/saint-lucia |website=history.state.gov |access-date=12 February 2023 |archive-date=13 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230213071903/https://history.state.gov/countries/saint-lucia |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1967, Saint Lucia became one of the six members of the [[West Indies Associated States]], with internal self-government.<ref>{{cite web |title=Country Summary |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/saint-lucia/summaries |website=The World Factbook |publisher=Central Intelligence Agency |access-date=12 February 2023 |language=en |archive-date=12 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230212133356/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/saint-lucia/summaries |url-status=live }}</ref> Independence was peacefully gained in 1979 under [[Sir John Compton]] of [[United Workers Party (Saint Lucia)|United Workers Party]], with the island remaining within the [[British Commonwealth]], keeping then-Queen [[Elizabeth II]] as [[Monarchy of Saint Lucia|Monarch]], represented locally by a [[Governor-General of Saint Lucia|Governor-General]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Saint Lucia – Independence {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Saint-Lucia/Independence |website=www.britannica.com |access-date=12 February 2023 |language=en}}</ref>