After more than 100 years, a fresh stream of colonists arrived from America. With them they brought skills for farming and shipbuilding. They also brought their slaves. In 1783 the people, along with South Carolina militia, forced Spanish troops back without a single shot being fired. This in turned gave them their independence.

During the U.S. Civil War there was another boost in economy. The British favored the south because it needed the cotton for their textile industry. However it couldn't get through the port because of the Union blockade. Then came the blockade runners. With their fast ships they would take the southern cotton and meet up with British ship and trade goods. They in turn would return to the U.S. and sell their goods for huge profits. After the war though the economy sank again.

Then came 1919 when the U.S. passed the 14th amendment prohibiting alcohol. That's when smuggling started happening and again another boost in the economy. Then prohibition was lifted in 1934 and with that and the collapse of sponge harvesting, the Bahamas got a double whammy and the economy plummeted. Things really turned around for them when in 1961 Cuba closed its doors to the United States. In turn tourism picked up there. Especially because they were so close to the U.S. and they had beautiful beaches to offer. Now the Bahamas are thriving and they became their own nation on July 10th 1973.