Editing History of the Bahamas (section)

==Latter 18th century==
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In 1741, Governor [[John Tinker (governor)|John Tinker]] and Peter Henry Bruce constructed Fort Montague. Additionally, the Governor also reported a privateering boom in the [[Thirteen Colonies]] in North America. He also reported that over 2300 sumptuous houses were built. In 1768 Governor William Shirley filled in mosquito-breeding swamps and extended Nassau.
[[File:Battle of Nassau.jpg|thumb|American forces lands at New Providence during the [[American Revolutionary War]]. The landing resulted in a two-week occupation of Nassau in 1776]]
During the [[American War of Independence]] the Bahamas was attacked by American and allied forces on several occasions. In 1776, American forces launched an [[Raid of Nassau|amphibious assault against Nassau]], resulting in its two-week occupation. In 1782, Spanish forces under [[Bernardo de Galvez|General Galvez]] [[Capture of the Bahamas (1782)|captured the Bahamas]] in 1782. A British-American Loyalist expedition led by Colonel [[Andrew Deveaux]], [[Capture of the Bahamas (1783)|recaptured the islands]] in 1783. 

After the [[American Revolution]], the British issued land grants to [[American Loyalists]] who  had gone into exile from the newly established United  States. The sparse population of the Bahamas tripled within a few years. The Loyalists developed cotton as a commodity crop, but it dwindled from insect damage and soil exhaustion. In addition to slaves they brought with them, the planters' descendants imported more African slaves for labour.

Most of the current inhabitants in the islands are descended from the slaves brought to work on the Loyalist plantations. In addition, thousands of captive Africans, who were liberated from foreign slave ships by the British navy after the [[Slave Trade Act 1807|abolition of the British slave trade in 1807]], were resettled as free persons in the Bahamas.