Bahamas and the American Civil War facts for kids

The Bahamas is a group of islands in the Atlantic Ocean. Even though it was part of the British Empire at the time, the Bahamas was greatly affected by the American Civil War (1861-1865). During this war, the islands became a busy place for ships called "blockade runners." These ships helped the Confederate States get supplies.

The Bahamas and the American Civil War

The American Civil War was fought between the northern and southern states of the United States. The northern states, called the Union, tried to stop the southern states, called the Confederacy, from getting supplies by blocking their ports. This was called a naval blockade. The Bahamas, especially the city of Nassau, became very important because it was a safe place for ships to trade.

What Were Blockade Runners?

Blockade runners were special ships. They were usually fast and small. Their job was to sneak past the Union's naval blockade. They would carry goods like cotton out of the Confederate states. Then, they would bring back supplies that the Confederacy desperately needed. These supplies included weapons, medicine, and other goods.

How the War Changed the Bahamas

The American Civil War brought big changes to the Bahamas. Before the war, some islands, like Grand Bahama Island, had fewer people. But when the blockade runners started coming, things changed quickly.

Grand Bahama's Growth

In the 19th century, the population of Grand Bahama Island was decreasing. This was partly because Nassau was becoming the main center. However, after the Civil War began in 1861, Grand Bahama Island's population actually doubled. This happened because of all the activity from the blockade runners.

Nassau: A Busy Port

Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas, became a very busy port. It was a perfect spot for blockade runners. Even though Florida was only 55 miles away, its ports were not very good for large ships. So, blockade runners would travel about 560 miles from Charleston, South Carolina, a major Confederate port, to Nassau. This trip usually took about 48 hours.

The first blockade runner arrived in Nassau on December 5, 1861. By the end of the war, many ships had traveled between Nassau and the Confederacy. Records show that 397 ships sailed from the Confederacy to Nassau. Also, 588 ships went from Nassau back to the Confederacy.

Trade in Nassau grew a lot during this time. In 1861, imports to Nassau were worth about £234,029. Exports were worth about £157,350. By 1864, when the trade was at its peak, imports were valued at a huge £5,346,112. Exports were worth £4,672,398. This shows how much money was being made.

Blockade runners would bring cotton from Charleston to Nassau. This cotton was then traded for British goods. The cotton would eventually be sent to cotton mills in Britain. This trade was very important for both the Confederacy and the British economy.

After the War: Tough Times and New Opportunities

When the American Civil War ended in 1865, the Bahamas faced hard times. The busy trade with the Confederacy stopped. The islands did not fully recover until another period of trouble in America.

This new opportunity came during American Prohibition. Prohibition was a time in the United States (from 1920 to 1933) when it was illegal to make, sell, or transport alcohol. Just like with the Civil War, the Bahamas found a new role. Scotch whisky and other alcoholic drinks were illegally sent from the Bahamas to the United States. This brought a lot of money to the islands.

However, when Prohibition ended, the Bahamas' good fortune also ended again. Many Bahamians today can trace their family history back to people from the Southern United States. These Southerners moved to the Bahamas before or during the Civil War.