| The Bahamas was a British colony from 1718 | | | | destroyed the native population of Arawak |
| and later became an independent country in | | | | Indians. The British stopped a lot of the |
| 1973, while remaining a part of the | | | | trouble when they made the islands a British |
| Commonwealth of Nations. They retain Queen | | | | Crown Colony. |
| Elizabeth II as their monarch and still sing | | | | |
| God Save the Queen as a national anthem. The | | | | The islands are mostly Christian, with a |
| main language is English though some speak | | | | heavy leaning towards the Protestant church, |
| variants of English, Spanish and Portuguese. | | | | other denominations being present but in |
| | | | minority. A very small minority practise |
| The capital city is Nassau, which is located | | | | Obeah and Voodoo, both similar to each other, |
| on the island New Providence, though Andros | | | | as spiritualistic folk beliefs. |
| Island is the largest in the group. The city | | | | |
| was a haven for the pirates that sailed the | | | | The Prime Minister of the Bahamas is Perry |
| Caribbean, including the famous Blackbeard, | | | | Gladstone Christie, born 1944, and third |
| and was fought over by several nations, | | | | Prime Minister of the nation. Christie has |
| notably Spain and England. The whole region | | | | earned awards for his efforts in urban |
| was notorious in legend for pirate activity, | | | | renewal and community policing, though has |
| and is used as a set for many books and films | | | | also been in scandal surrounding his |
| on the subject. | | | | political tactics. |
| | | | |
| The pirates even disrupted the area's | | | | The Bahamas' main industry is tourism, with |
| government at one point by declaring an | | | | the island being a massive tourist spot for |
| anarchic 'Privateer's Republic' and | | | | most western countries. The tropical location |
| ransacking Charlestown, which would later | | | | and mysterious history make for an ideal spot |
| become Nassau. The islands had been through | | | | and a popular place for couples, families and |
| the hands of the Spanish and they had all but | | | | partiers. |