Colonial Governance and the House of Assembly
The Structure of Colonial Government
Key concepts: the governor, the appointed Legislative Council, and the elected House of Assembly. The Bahamian Assembly dates from the early eighteenth century and is one of the oldest in the Caribbean. Candidates must understand the division: the governor represented the Crown, the Council was appointed, and the Assembly was elected but on a narrow franchise.
The Narrow Franchise
Understand who could vote: generally adult males meeting property or income qualifications. Women, the poor, and most people of African descent were excluded for much of the period. This is a common trap: the Assembly was elected, but not democratic in the modern sense. Reform came slowly, through property changes and later universal adult suffrage.
Conflict and Self-Government
Know that the Assembly frequently clashed with governors over money and local control, a pattern called 'assembly assertiveness'. The Crown took over in 1718 after proprietary rule, and later constitutional changes reduced or reshaped the Assembly's powers at times. The key concept is that Bahamians developed a strong tradition of local representation, but real power stayed with the governor and, ultimately, London.
The Move Toward Reform
Understand the pressures that led to constitutional change: economic decline, the small electorate, and growing demands from the black majority and labour groups. The 1964 constitution introduced internal self-government with a premier and cabinet, a milestone before independence.
Traps and Rule of Thumb
- Do not describe the early Assembly as democratically elected by all adults.
- Do not confuse the appointed Council with the elected Assembly.
- Remember 1964 as internal self-government, not independence.
Rule of thumb: governor = Crown; Council = appointed; Assembly = elected but restricted. If a question asks who held real power, think governor and London.
Worked Example
A question asks why the early Bahamian Assembly was not democratic. The best answer notes the property franchise, exclusion of women and the poor, and the governor's reserved powers. A distractor praising universal suffrage is wrong for that period.