vereignty. After American independence, some 7,300 loyalists and their slaves moved to the Bahamas from New York, Florida and the Carolinas. These Americans established plantations on several islands and became a political force in the capital. The small population became mostly African from this point on. The British abolished the slave trade in 1807, which led to the forced settlement on Bahamian islands of thousands of Africans liberated from slave ships by the Royal Navy. Slavery itself was finally abolished in the British Empire on August 1, 1834. 20th century Modern political development began after the Second World War. The first political parties were formed in the 1950s and the British made the islands internally self-governing in 1964, with Roland Symonette of the United Bahamian Party as the first premier. In 1967, Lynden Pindling of the Progressive Liberal Party became the first black premier of the colony, and in 1968 the title was changed to prime minister. In 1973, the Bahamas became fully independent, but retained membership in the Commonwealth of Nations. Sir Milo Butler was appointed the first black governor-general (the representative of Queen Elizabeth II) shortly after independence. Based on the twin pillars of tourism and offshore finance, the Bahamian economy has prospered since the 1950s. However, there remain significant challenges in areas such as education, health care, international narcotics trafficking and illegal immigration from Haiti. The origin of the name "Bahamas" is unclear. It may derive from the Spanish baja mar, meaning "shallow seas";[citation needed] or the Lucayan word for Grand Bahama Island, ba-ha-ma "large upper middle land".[9] Geography and climate Main article: Geography of the Bahamas Wettest tropical cyclones in the Bahamas Precipitation Storm Location Rank (mm) (in) 1 747.5 29.43 Noel 2007 Long Island[10] 2 508.0 20.00 Donna 1960 [11] 3 436.6 17.19 Flora 1963 Duncan Town[12] 4 390.1 15.36 Inez 1966 Nassau Airport[12] 5 321.1 12.64 Michelle 2001 Nassau[13] 6 309.4 12.18 Erin 1995 Church Grove[14] 7 279.4 10.00 Isidore 1984 Nassau[15] 8 260.0 9.88 Fay 2008 Freeport[16] 9 236.7 9.32 Floyd 1999 Little Harbor Abacos[17] 10 216.4 8.52 Cleo 1964 West End[12] The closest island to the United States is Bimini, which is also known as the gateway to the Bahamas. The island of Abaco is to the east of Grand Bahama. The southeasternmost island is Inagua. The largest island is Andros Island. Other inhabited islands include Eleuthera, Cat Island, Long Island, San Salvador Island, Acklins, Crooked Island, Exuma and Mayaguana. Nassau, the Bahamas capital city, lies on the island of New Providence. All the islands are low and flat, with ridges that usually rise no more than 15 to 20 m (49 to 66 ft). The highest point in the country is Mount Alvernia, formerly called Como Hill, which has an altitude of 63 metres (210 ft) on Cat Island. To the southeast, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and three more extensive submarine features called Mouchoir Bank, Silver Bank, and Navidad Bank, are geographically a continuation of the Bahamas, but not part of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.[citation needed] The Bahamas from space. NASA Aqua satellite image, 2009 The climate of the Bahamas is subtropical to tropical, and is moderated significantly by the waters of the Gulf Stream, particularly in winter.[18] Conversely, this often proves very dangerous in the summer and autumn, when hurricanes pass near or through the islands. Hurricane Andrew hit the northern islands during the 1992 Atlantic hurricane season, and Hurricane Floyd hit most of the islands during the 1999 Atlantic hurricane season. Hurricane Frances hit in 2004. Also in 2004, the northern Bahamas were hit by a less potent Hurricane Jeanne. In 2005 the northern islands were once again struck, this time by Hurricane Wilma. In Grand Bahama, storm surges and high winds destroyed homes and schools, floated graves and made roughly 1,000 people homeless. While there has never been a freeze reported in the Bahamas, the temperature can fall as low as 2–3 °C during Arctic outbreaks that affect nearby Florida. Snow has been reported to have mixed with rain in Freeport in January, 1977, the same time that it snowed in the Miami area. The temperature was about 5 °C at the time.[citation needed] Districts Main article: Districts of the Bahamas The districts of the Bahamas provide a system of local government everywhere in The Bahamas except New Providence, whose affairs are handled directly by the central government. The districts other than New Providence are: Acklins Berry Islands Bimini Black Point, Exuma Cat Island Central Abaco Central Andros Central Eleuthera City of Freeport, Grand Bahama Crooked Island East Grand Bahama Exuma Grand Cay, Abaco Harbour Island, Eleuthera Hope Town, Abaco Inagua Long Island \ Mangrove Cay, Andros Mayaguana Moore's Island, Abaco North Abaco North Andros North Eleuthera Ragged Island Rum Cay San Salvador South Abaco South Andros South Eleuthera Spanish Wells, Eleuthera West Grand Bahama Districts of the Bahamas Government and politics Main article: Politics of the Bahamas Bahamian Parliament, located in downtown Nassau Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham The Bahamas is a sovereign independent nation. Political and legal traditions closely follow those of the United Kingdom and the Westminster system. The Bahamas is a parliamentary democracy with two main parties, the Free National Movement and the Progressive Liberal Party. Tourism generates about half of all jobs, but the number of visitors has dropped significantly since the beginning of the global economic downturn during the last quarter of 2008. Banking and international financial services also have contracted, and the Bahamas is one of 34 secrecy jurisdictions that would be subject to the Stop Tax Haven Abuse Act introduced in the U.S. Congress. The Bahamas archipelago is a way station for drug smugglers and illegal aliens seeking to enter the United States. Aggressive anti–money laundering efforts have caused some offshore banks to incur losses and leave the country. The Bahamas is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, with Queen Elizabeth II as head of state (represented by a Governor-General). Legislative power is vested in a bicameral parliament, which consists of a 41-member House of Assembly (the lower house), with members elected from single-member districts, and a 16-member Senate, with members appointed by the governor-general, including nine on the advice of the prime minister, four on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and three on the advice of the prime minister after consultation with the leader of the opposition. The House of Assembly carries out all major legislative functions. As under the Westminster system, the prime minister may dissolve parliament and call a general election at any time within a five-year term. The prime minister is the head of government and is the leader of the party with the most seats in the House of Assembly. Executive power is exercised by the cabinet, selected by the prime minister and drawn from his supporters in the House of Assembly. The current governor-general is Arthur Dion Hanna and the current Prime Minister is Hubert Ingraham. The Bahamas has a largely two-party system dominated by the centre-left Progressive Liberal Party and the centre-right Free National Movement. A handful of splinter parties have been unable to win election to parliament. These parties have included the Bahamas Democratic Movement, the Coalition for Democratic Reform and the Bahamian Nationalist Party. Constitutional safeguards include freedom of speech, press, worship, movement, and association. Although the Bahamas is not geographically located in the Caribbean, it is a member of the Caribbean Community. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. Jurisprudence is based on English law. Economy Main article: Economy of the Bahamas The financial sector is the economy’s second most important sector, accounting for around 15 per cent of GDP. The government has adopted incentives to encourage foreign financial business, and further banking and finance reforms are in progress. The government plans to merge the regulatory functions of key financial institutions, including the Central Bank of the Bahamas (CBB) and the Securities and Exchange Commission. Restrictions and controls on capital and money market instruments exist, and are administered by the Central Bank. The Bahamas International Securities Exchange currently consists of 19 listed public companies. Reflecting the relative soundness of the banking system (mostly populated by Canadian banks), the impact of the global financial crisis on the financial sector has been limited. According to the World Bank, the Bahamas’ weighted average tariff rate was a high 23.9 per cent in 2006. High tariffs and a “stamp” tax on certain imports, high duties that protect a few agricultural items and consumer goods, occasional import bans, and some import licensing and permits add to the cost of trade. Overall tax revenue as a percentage of GDP was 21.8 per cent. Authorities are trying to increase tax compliance and collection in the wake of the global crisis. Inflation has been moderate, averaging 3.7 per cent between 2006 and 2008. Demographics This section may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please improve this section if you can. (April 2008) Main article: Demographics of the Bahamas Population: 309,156 (July 2009 est.) Age structure: 0–14 years: 25.9% (male 40,085; female 38,959) 15–64 years: 67.2% (male 102,154; female 105,482) 65 years and over: 6.9% (male 8,772; female 12,704) (2009 est.) Population growth rate: 0.536% (2009 est.) Birth rate: 16.81 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) Death rate: 9.32 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) Net migration rate: -2.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) Infant mortality rate: 23.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.87 years. Female: 73.49 years (2002 est.) Male: 66.32 years Total fertility rate: 2.28 children born/woman (2002 est.) Nationality: noun: Bahamian(s) Adjective: Bahamian (pronounced /b?'he?m??n/) Ethnic groups: 85% Black, 12% White, 3% Asian Religions: Baptist 32%, Anglican 20%, Roman Catholic 19%, Methodist 6%, Church of God 6%, other Protestant 12%, none or unknown 3%, other 2%[19] The 'other' category includes Jews, Muslims, Baha'is, Hindus, Rastafarians, and practitioners of Obeah.[20] Languages: English (official), Bahamian Dialect[21], Literacy (age 15+): total population: 98.2% male: 98.5% female: 98% (1995 est.)[22] Culture Main articles: Culture of the Bahamas and Music of the Bahamas In the less developed outer islands, handicrafts include basketry made from palm fronds. This material, commonly called "straw", is plaited into hats and bags that are popular tourist items. Another use is for so-called "Voodoo dolls," even though such dolls are the result of the American imagination and not based on historic fact.[23] Junkanoo celebration in Nassau Although not practised by native Bahamians obeah, a form of folk magic derived from West African origins, is practiced in some Family Islands (out-islands) of the Bahamas due to Haitian migration. The practice of obeah is however illegal in The Bahamas and punishable by law[24]. Junkanoo is a traditional African street parade of music, dance, and art held in Nassau (and a few other settlements) every Boxing Day, New Year's Day. Junkanoo is also used to celebrate other holidays and events such as Emancipation Day. Regattas are important social events in many family island settlements. They usually feature one or more days of sailing by old-fashioned work boats, as well as an onshore festival. Some settlements have festivals associated with the traditional crop or food of that area, such as the "Pineapple Fest" in Gregory Town, Eleuthera or the "Crab Fest" on Andros. Other significant traditions include story telling. See also North America portal Commonwealth realms portal Main article: Outline of the Bahamas Index of Bahamas-related articles List of international rankings Outline of geography Outline of North America Member of Commonwealth of Nations United Nations Organization of American States Caribbean Community References ^ "1973: Bahamas' sun sets on British Empire". BBC News. July 9, 1973. http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/july/9/newsid_2498000/2498835.stm. Retrieved 2009-05-01.  ^ Population estimates for the Bahamas take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected. ^ a b c d "The Bahamas". International Monetary Fund. http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2009/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2006&ey=2009&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=313&s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC%2CLP&grp=0&a=&pr.x=52&pr.y=15. Retrieved 2009-10-01.  ^ "Human Development Report 2009: Bahamas". The United Nations. http://hdrstats.undp.org/en/countries/country_fact_sheets/cty_fs_BHS.html. Retrieved 2009-10-18.  ^ "Looking for Columbus". Joanne E. Dumene. Five Hundred Magazine. April 1990, Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 11–15 ^ Schools Grapple With Columbus's Legacy: Intrepid Explorer or Ruthless Conqueror?. Education Week. October 9, 1991. ^ "Diocesan History". © Copyright 2009 Anglican Communications Department. 2009. http://bahamas.anglican.org/history.php. Retrieved 2009-05-07.  ^ [|Woodard, Colin] (2007). The Republic of Pirates. Harcourt, Inc. pp. 166–168, 262–314. ISBN 978-0-15-603462-3. http://www.republicofpirates.net.  ^ Languages of the Pre-Columbian Antilles by Julian Granberry and Gary Vescelius ^ Brown, Daniel (2007-12-17). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Noel (28 October - 2 November 2007)". National Hurricane Center. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pdf/TCR-AL162007_Noel.pdf. Retrieved 2007-12-25.  ^ Turks and Caicos Islands Red Cross (2007). Turks and Caicos Islands 2007 Hurricane Guide. Retrieved on 2008-06-15. ^ a b c David Roth (2009). Tropical Cyclone Rainfall Maxima. Hydrometeorological Prediction Center. Retrieved on 2007-03-15. ^ Beven, Jack (2002-01-23). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Michelle (29 October - 5 November 2001)". National Hurricane Center. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2001michelle.html. Retrieved 2007-12-25.  ^ Rappaport, Edward (1995-11-26). "Preliminary Report: Hurricane Erin (31 July - 6 August 1995)". National Hurricane Center. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/1995erin.html. Retrieved 2007-12-25.  ^ Associated Press (1984-09-27). "Floridians Batten Down As Storm Gains Strength". Daily Herald. http://thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?img=24763142_clean&firstvisit=true&src=search&currentResult=8&currentPage=10. Retrieved 2009-05-03.  ^ Stacey R. Stewart and John L. Beven III (2009). Tropical Cyclone Report: Tropical Storm Fay 15-26 August 2008. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved on 2009-02-09. ^ Pasch, Richard (1999-11-18). "Preliminary Report: Hurricane Floyd (7 - 17 September 1999)". National Hurricane Center. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/1999floyd.html. Retrieved 2007-12-25.  ^ Location and General Description Bahamian dry forests, The Encyclopedia of Earth ^ Religion, Faith and God in the Bahamas – accessed 8 August 2008 ^ Bahamas - International Religious Freedom Report 2005 – accessed 8 August 2008 ^ Bahamas Languages – accessed August 8, 2008 ^ The Bahamas guide ^ Hurbon, Laennec. "American Fantasy and Haitian Vodou.” Sacred Arts of Haitian Vodou. Ed. Donald J. Cosentino. Los Angeles: UCLA Fowler Museum of Cultural History, 1995. 181–97. ^ [1] Further reading General history Cash Philip et al. (Don Maples, Alison Packer). The Making of the Bahamas: A History for Schools. London: Collins, 1978. Albury, Paul. The Story of The Bahamas. London: MacMillan Caribbean, 1975. Miller, Hubert W. The Colonization of the Bahamas, 1647–1670, The William and Mary Quarterly 2 no.1 (January 1945): 33–46. Craton, Michael. A History of the Bahamas. London: Collins, 1962. Craton, Michael and Saunders, Gail. Islanders in the Stream: A History of the Bahamian People. Athens:University of Georgia Press, 1992 Economic history Johnson, Howard. The Bahamas in Slavery and Freedom. Kingston: Ian Randle Publishing, 1991. Johnson, Howard. The Bahamas from Slavery to Servitude, 1783–1933. Gainesville: University of Florida Press, 1996. Alan A. Block. Masters of Paradise, New Brunswick and London, Transaction Publishers, 1998. Storr, Virgil H. Enterprising Slaves and Master Pirates: Understanding Economic Life in the Bahamaz. New York: Peter Lang, 2004. Social history Johnson, Wittington B. Race Relations in the Bahamas, 1784–1834: The Nonviolent Transformation from a Slave to a Free Society. Fayetteville: University of Arkansas, 2000. Shirley, Paul. "Tek Force Wid Force", History Today 54, no. 41 (April 2004): 30–35. Saunders, Gail. The Social Life in the Bahamas 1880s–1920s. Nassau: Media Publishing, 1996. Saunders, Gail. Bahamas Society After Emancipation. Kingston: Ian Randle Publishing, 1990. Curry, Jimmy. Filthy Rich Gangster/First Bahamian Movie. Movie Mogul Pictures: 1996. Curry, Jimmy. To The Rescue/First Bahamian Rap/Hip Hop Song. Royal Crown Records, 1985. Morrelo, Ryan. " External links Find more about Bahamas on Wikipedia's sister projects: Definitions from Wiktionary Textbooks from Wikibooks Quotations from Wikiquote Source texts from Wikisource Images and media from Commons News stories from Wikinews Learning resources from Wikiversity Wikimedia Atlas of Bahamas The Bahamas Hope Town Abaco The Official Tourism Website of The Islands Of The Bahamas (USA) The Official UK Tourism Website of The Islands Of The Bahamas Official website for Bahamas government Bahamas travel guide from Wikitravel Bahamas Financial Services Board [2] The Bahamas Constitution Bahamas entry at The World Factbook The Bahamas at the University of Colorado at Boulder The Bahamas at the Open Directory Project   Articles Related to The Bahamas v • d • e Bahamas topics Government and politics Elections · Flag · Foreign relations · Governor-General · Law enforcement · Military · Monarchy · Parliament · Political parties · Prime Minister History Battle of Nassau · Colonial heads · Eleutheran Adventurers · Civil War Economy and infrastructure Airports · Communications · Companies · Dollar · Securities Exchange · Transport Geography and environment Birds · Cities · Districts · Islands · Mammals Culture and society Bahamians Creole · Demographics · Education · Films · Music · Television See also: List of Bahamas-related topics v • d • e   Commonwealth realms Antigua and Barbuda · Australia · Bahamas · Barbados · Belize · Canada · Grenada · Jamaica · New Zealand · Papua New Guinea · St Kitts and Nevis · St Lucia · St Vincent and the Grenadines · Solomon Islands · Tuvalu · United Kingdom    Geographic locale Lat. and Long. 25°4'N 77°20'W? / ?25.067°N 77.333°W? / 25.067; -77.333 (Nassau) v • d • e Countries and territories of the Caribbean   Sovereign states Commonwealth Realms Antigua and Barbuda