Fractured Island Nations Trivia Quiz

Answer: Seychelles

Seychelles is an island nation located in the Indian Ocean. Seychelles was originally ruled by the French from 1768-94, seized by the British in 1794, and would eventually become a separate colony in 1903. It would not be until 1976, however, that Seychelles would become an independent nation.

Answer: Madagascar

Madagascar is a nation that can be found off the east coast of Africa. Madagascar gained independence from the French in 1960, but this has not been without hardship. Military coups, corrupt government, starvation, and poverty have all been major issues in Madagascar since their step forward into independence.

Answer: Tuvalu

The British Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony was divided in 1975. The Ellice Islands would become the nation of Tuvalu in 1978 and they would join the United Nations in 2000. Tuvalu is found near a cluster of other island nations including Fiji, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu.

Answer: Cyprus

Cyprus is an island nation that is found within the Mediterranean Sea. Full independence was gained on August 16, 1960, however, strife and hardship are more than common on this gorgeous island country. Unfortunately, Greek and Turkish leaders and forces have been in a cultural and land dispute since the mid-1960s.

In 1983, Turkish leader Rauf Denktash declared Northern Cyprus as an independent nation, however, as of 2004 statistics, this entity was still not recognized internationally.

Answer: Cuba

Cuba is a large island country located in the Caribbean region. Ruled by communist dictator Fidel Castro since the 1950s, they were one of a handful of nations involved in the Cold War for weapons supremacy. Sanctions have been placed on Cuba by the United States which have weakened the relationship between the two nations.

Answer: Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea is an island country that shares its borders with Indonesia. Papua New Guinea has suffered warfare in the Bougainville region involving the clash between rival secessionist rebels. A truce was signed in 1997, however, an estimated 20000 people were killed during the Bougainville uprisings.

Answer: Fiji

Fiji is located in the Pacific Ocean to the east of Australia. Fiji gained its independence in 1970, however, it was not until 1999 that an Indian Prime Minister ran the country for the first time. This was short lived, however, as Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudry was taken captive by indigenous gunmen.

In 2001, a new vote was held bringing Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase into office.

Answer: Barbados

Barbados is a tourist haven in the Caribbean region. This country has been thought to have been named by the Portuguese after the abundance of fig trees on the island which have a bearded figure to them.

Answer: Taiwan

Taiwan has also been called Formosa in historical times. Taiwan housed over two million Kuomintang supporters who fled China during Mao's communist regime in the late 1940s. In recent years, Taiwan has dealt with the hardship of a large scale earthquake which killed nearly 2500 people in 1999.

Answer: Haiti

Although Haiti is not an island unto itself, it is located on the Island of Hispaniola and shares the island with their bordering nation of the Dominican Republic. Haiti suffered a 28 year dictatorship from 1957-86 by father and son Francois and Jean-Claude Duvalier that involved fear, poverty, and political corruption.