BAHAMAS HISTORY |
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Christopher Columbus' first landfall in the New World in 1492 is believed to
have been on the island of San Salvador (also called Watling's Island),
located in the southern Bahamas. He encountered friendly Arawak (also known
as Lucayan) Amerindians and exchanged gifts with them.
From the late 1400s until the 1600s, Spain controlled the Bahamas. In the
18th century, British Loyalists who had left New England due to increasing
anti-British sentiments moved to the islands. Due to the large number of
British settlers across the islands, custody of the chain was transferred
from Spain to Britain, and the Bahama Islands were named a British colony in
1783. |
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In 1973, Bahamians voted for and received independence from Britain while
remaining a part of the Commonwealth of Nations. Since attaining
independence, the Bahamas has prospered through tourism, international
banking, and investment management. |
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