The Bahamas : An Island Paradise

The Bahamas are a good example of what mostremained loyal to England left the newly formed
people think of when someone talks about an islandUnited States and relocated to the Bahamas, bringing
paradise. The islands have had an exciting history,their slaves with them. These settlers began to
with illegal activities and periods of economicgrown cotton in the Bahamas under the protection
prosperity and poverty.The history of the Bahamasthe British government. When the American Civil War
begins with the Lukku-cairi who were the firstbegan, the Union navy attempted to blockade the
settlers on the islands. They were originally fromBahamas. The Civil War was a prosperous time for
South America and settled the islands around the 9ththe Bahamas, as the residents began running cotton
century AD after they wandered up through thefrom the Confederacy to England and even managed
Caribbean to the Bahamas. They were also knownto send equipment to the Confederacy.After the Civil
by a couple of other names, the Lucayans, theWar, things calmed down somewhat in the Bahamas.
Arawaks or, as Columbus mistakenly called them in,With the advent of prohibition in the United States,
Indians. Columbus was mistaken in naming them,the Bahamas prospered yet again as the area
because he thought he had landed in the East Indiesbecame a base for illegal alcohol running to the
and designated the natives as Indians.The islandsStates. With the repeal of Prohibition however, yet
were also known for piracy, since the location of theagain the islands experienced a period of economic
islands was ideal for illegal activities. Many famousuncertainty.With the advent of World War II, the
pirates such as Blackbeard and Anne Bonney were inBahamas began to play a new role. The islands
the Bahamas for at least part of their careers.became a way-station for jets and navy ships in the
Generally, the pirates would lure ships into the shallowAtlantic. As the war ended a new more prosperous
waters near the islands and when they wereadventure began. The islands began to be recognized
grounded, they would raid the ships. In 1670 Englandas a desirable tourist destination and visitors began to
claimed the islands as their territory. Even then, withbring new life to the economy of the islands. In the
the greatest navy at the time, Britain was helpless to1950s, when Cuba was closed to American tourists,
stop the pirates. In 1718 the first governor of thethe Bahamas became an alternative destination for
islands took over and managed to drive the piratesthose who wanted to visit the area.In 1964, England
out. At that point, England recognized the Bahamasgave the islands the ability to govern themselves and
as an official colony.Officially, piracy was over.changed them from a colony to a Commonwealth in
However, during England's war with Spain and during1969. By 1973 the Commonwealth of the Bahamas
the American Revolution, an official form of piracy,became independent within the Commonwealth, but
privateering, continued in the islands. Privateering wasdecided to keep Queen Elizabeth II as their head of
sanctioned by the government and brought sporadicstate.The Bahamas have had a definite pattern of
periods of prosperity to the islands. In May 1782,ups and downs through the years. Throughout its
Spain took the Bahamas from the British after thehistory, the Bahamas have had periods of great
Spanish had entered the American Revolution, sidingeconomic prosperity (usually through illegal activities
with the Americans. With the signing of the Treatyor at least questionable ones) and then periods of
of Versailles in 1783 however, Spain gave theeconomic stagnation. Today, the Bahamas are
Bahamas back the England.With the end of theprobably better known as a tourist destination due to
Revolutionary War, some southerners who hadits beautiful scenery.