978-1-4222-3316-0

Chronology

First Amerindian settlement in the Bahamas may have occurred.

Ca. 300 A . D .

The Lucayan tribe of Arawaks settle in the Bahamas.

9th-10th century

Columbus lands on San Salvador.

1492 1648 1650 1670 1718 1782 1783 1861

English Puritans from Bermuda form colony on Eleuthera Island.

The golden age of piracy begins. Britain claims the Bahamas.

Woodes Rogers takes office as the first British royal governor of the Bahamas and begins campaign to drive out the pirates.

Spain briefly recaptures the Bahamas.

The Treaty of Versailles gives back British control of the Bahamas. Bahamians prosper as they aid Confederate troops during the American Civil War. The Bahamas becomes an important—although illegal— supplier of rum during the U.S. Prohibition years. The Bahamas islands are used as an important air and sea way station. Britain changes status of Bahamas from colony to commonwealth. The Bahamas become independent within the Commonwealth of Nations, but retain Queen Elizabeth II as their constitutional head of state. Britain grants self-government to the Bahamas.

1920s

World War II

1964 1969 1973

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