BGCSE Social Studies flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Archipelago

A chain or group of islands; The Bahamas is an archipelago of about 700 islands and 2,000 cays in the Atlantic Ocean.

Mount Alvernia

The highest point in The Bahamas, located on Cat Island; it rises about 63 metres (206 feet) above sea level.

Blue hole

A deep, water-filled sinkhole in limestone; Bahamian blue holes contain unique marine life and are important for science and diving.

Mangrove

Salt-tolerant trees that grow along tropical coastlines; their roots stabilize shorelines, filter water, and provide nursery habitat for fish and shellfish.

Lucayans

The indigenous Arawak-speaking people who settled The Bahamas before Columbus; they were largely wiped out by Spanish exploitation and disease after 1492.

Guanahani

The Lucayan name for the island Columbus reached in 1492; it is identified with San Salvador in The Bahamas.

Eleutheran Adventurers

English settlers who arrived in Eleuthera in 1648 seeking religious freedom; they established one of the earliest permanent European settlements in The Bahamas.

Majority Rule

The 1967 election in which the Progressive Liberal Party won control of government, ending decades of minority rule and marking a key step toward independence.

Natural increase

The difference between births and deaths in a population over a period; it excludes migration and is usually expressed as a rate per 1,000 people.

Net migration

The number of immigrants entering a country minus the number of emigrants leaving it during a period; positive means more arrivals than departures.

Dependency ratio

The number of people under 15 and over 65 divided by the working-age population (15–64), multiplied by 100; it shows the burden on workers.

Internal migration

Movement of people within a country from one region to another; in The Bahamas it often means moving from Family Islands to Nassau or Freeport.

GDP per capita

Gross domestic product divided by population; it estimates average economic output per person but does not show income distribution.

Balance of trade

The value of a country's exports minus its imports; a trade deficit occurs when imports are greater than exports, as is typical for The Bahamas.

Tourism

The travel and hospitality industry; in The Bahamas it includes cruise visitors, stopover visitors, hotels, restaurants, and attractions and dominates the economy.

Offshore financial services

Banking, trust, insurance, and investment services provided to non-residents; The Bahamas is a major centre regulated by the Central Bank and Securities Commission.

Constitutional monarchy

A system where a monarch is head of state but governed by a constitution; in The Bahamas, the King is represented by a Governor-General.

Governor-General

The representative of the Bahamian monarch in The Bahamas; appointed on the advice of the Prime Minister, the Governor-General performs constitutional and ceremonial duties.

House of Assembly

The elected lower chamber of The Bahamas Parliament; members are chosen in constituency elections and the majority party leader usually becomes Prime Minister.

Privy Council

The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London is the final court of appeal for The Bahamas in civil and criminal cases.

Junkanoo

A Bahamian street parade with costumes, drums, cowbells, and dancing, held on Boxing Day and New Year's Day; it celebrates African heritage.

Rake 'n' scrape

A Bahamian music style featuring a scraper (often a saw) and accordion; it accompanies social dancing and reflects African and European influences.

Extended family

A family network including grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins beyond the nuclear family; it provides support and is important in Bahamian society.

Compulsory education

The legal requirement that children attend school; in The Bahamas schooling is compulsory for children aged about five to sixteen.

CARICOM

The Caribbean Community, a regional organization founded in 1973 to promote economic integration, foreign policy coordination, and cooperation among Caribbean states; The Bahamas joined in 1983.

CSME

The CARICOM Single Market and Economy, which allows free movement of goods, services, capital, and skilled labour among member states; The Bahamas has not joined.

Treaty of Chaguaramas

The 1973 agreement that established CARICOM; it set goals for economic integration and functional cooperation among Caribbean countries.

Caribbean Court of Justice

A regional court based in Trinidad that hears disputes under CARICOM law and can serve as a final appellate court; The Bahamas does not use it for final appeals.

SIDS

Small Island Developing States, a UN-recognized group of vulnerable island nations; they face climate change, sea-level rise, narrow economies, and high disaster risk.

United Nations

An international organization founded in 1945; The Bahamas became a member in 1973 and uses it to address development, climate, and security issues.

Climate adaptation

Adjusting to actual or expected climate effects; for The Bahamas this includes coastal protection, hurricane-resistant buildings, water storage, and reef conservation.

De-risking

When banks cut or restrict relationships with clients or countries to avoid risk; it can reduce access to correspondent banking and remittances for Caribbean states.