American Civil war
When did the civil war/blockade running occur (years)
1861-1865
Give one disadvantage of the steamships used
They had a voracious appetite for coal
What is blockade running?
the act of bypassing the blockaded ports
Which industry prospered during Blockade Running
(requires some logical thought)
Tourism industry because The Royal Victoria Hotel was completed to house the people, Bay street was widened to accommodate the influx of people, foreigners came to engage in blockade running, and various entertainers included the Bahamas in their tours.
When did the first blockade runners arrive in the Bahamas
Dec 5 1861
List 2 of the main causes of the civil war
- The south didn't want slavery to end, but the North did and had the power to abolish slavery since a Northener was the president.
-Southern states seceded and formed "an illegal nation in rebellion"
- The South opened fire on the North because their US army wouldn't leave South Carolina (a confederate state)
What was the name of the hotel that was lavishly completed in Nassau and which year was it completed ?
The Royal Victoria Hotel was completed in 1861
What was the name of the first iron ship to cross the Atlantic
The Banshee
A ________ accelerated the decline of The Bahamas in _____(year) after blockade running ended
A category 4 hurricane
1866
Why was the Bahamas "pro-confederate" although neutral in the war? (two reasons)
Essentially, they had history with the southern states. The six proprietors who controlled the Bahamas at one time were from the Carolinas, The Loyalists were mostly from southern states, and the previous Governor of Virginia was appointed to the Bahamas.
Give the alternate name of the south and 2 alternate names for the North
South- Confederates/Confederate States of America
North- The Union, Federals, USA
Give two reasons why the Bahamas was chosen to be used in Blockade running
-British colony
-closest to confederate ports
- required less coal
Name 3 risks of blockade running
-wrecking
- being captured by Union ships
-encountering inclement weather
- risk of stowaway slaves
- risk of running out of coal
Name 3 reasons why blockade running was considered a success
-ships going in and out everyday
-nearly 400 ships into nassau, nearly 600 ships out of Nassau
- profits so large, blockade runners did not fret
-poor persons became millionaires
-streets crowded with boxes, barrels and bales
-captains could retire comfortably after 6 months of work
Name 3 ways the blockade runners would evade the blockaders
-sinking the ship
-speed away
-run ashore under confederate protection
-save their anthracite (which didnt give off smoke) for when they were near the blockaders
-arrive in the confederate ports at night
-have one bahamian sailor and confederate sailor aboard to navigate in areas they're familiar with
- falsify destinations
Who was the president of the North and when was he elected and who was the president of the south
North President- Abraham Lincoln, elected in 1860
South President- Jefferson Davis
Name 4 business endeavors Bahamians engaged in during blockade running
tobacco smuggling, warehousing, selling their own items, planting cotton, opening liqour stores
Name the ship used in blockade running and 3 characteristics of them
These greyhound Boats had smaller storage space, were fast, and difficult to see and hear. They were painted grey or dull white to decrease the chances of being noticed at nighttime. They were long and narrow, coal powered, steamships. Nothing but the masts rose above the deck. They had a capacity of 4 to six hundred tons and made the trip from Wilmington to Nassau in 2 days. However they had a voracious appetite for coal.
Name 4 disadvantages of blockade running
•Crime increased
•Yellow fever epidemic plagued The Bahamas. About 250 deaths occurred in Nassau with a population of less than 15000 people
•The family islands did not share in the increased prosperity
•Families on outer islands were torn apart due to men leaving for potential work in Nassau
•When the American Civil War ended in 1865, The Bahamas’ economy halted, and hotels and warehouses were empty
•Foreigners mainly profited
•Nassau overcrowded
•Streets became dirty
•The poor had a harder time living
What would happen if a blockade runner was captured by the Union
the cargo would be sold, union workers would share in the prize, the blockade runner would be turned over to the union navy and converted to a US warship, foreigners on the ship would be arrested for a short period of time at Fort Lafayette, and southerners would be imprisoned for the duration of the war
Why did the South want to maintain slavery and why did the North want to abolish slavery?
The South was more agricultural and wanted slavery to expand to other states. Their economic success depended on slavery. The North was more industrial and manufactured goods and wanted to abolish slavery. The president of the North believed no one should be enslaved, regardless of their skin color.
Name 5 goods that were stored in the Bahamas to be shipped to Europe or The Confederates
cotton, guns, other war materials, clothes, boots, medicine, salt, iron, steel, copper, chemicals, buttons
Why did The Union President Block the southern ports
Since the North stopped trading with the South, Lincoln believed the war would be an easy win if the South had no source of weapons or armaments. So, he ceased trade with them and blocked their ports to “starve them out”.
Name 5 benefits of blockade running
•National debt of 50k pounds (about $1,915,478 today) was wiped out
•The newfound wealth was shared between whites and blacks
•Nassau thrived
•Warehouses built to store the goods, so employment rate increased
•Laboring wages doubled and living standards improved
•Shops were built quickly
•The Royal Victoria Hotel was completed and hosted balls and banquets
•Bay Street widened and given lights and sidewalks
•Harbor deepened to accommodate more ships
•New docks were built
•Some men made fortunes in less than a month
Name 5 points from the presentation that was your (your group's) favorite
Good job👍🏾 (hopefully)