Figure 1.--Denmark was a participant in the trans-Atlantic slave trade. It was not one of the major players, but Danish slavers are belieced to have transport of around 100,000 slaves from Africa to the West Indies. In the wake of the French Revolutiin, Denmark outlawed the slave trade (1792/1803). Denmark became was the first established sovereign European state to prohibit the slave trade, but it did not end slavery or emanccipate the slaves. The British Vermont colony was the first to do so (1777). Danish slaves were not liberated for several decadeds in the wake of another revolution (1848). The economny in the Danish Virgin Islands was based on sugar and slave labor. With the end of slavery, the economy flundered. The former slaves had no desire to eork on the plantations. The Danes decided to sell the now unprofitable islands. No one was particularly interested until World War I when the spector of German control and proximity the Panama Canal caused the Americans to offer $25 million. Here we see a scene on St. Croix just before the sale of the Islands to the United States.

Native American residents of the Virgin Islands included the Ciboney, Arawaks, and Caribs. Columbus sighted the Islands and was impressed with their beauty (1493). He named them the Virgins in honor of St. Ursula and her 11,000 virgins. The Native Americans contibued to inhabit the Islands through much of the 16th century. Europeans reported the presene of Native Americans as late as 1585, but the islands were eventually abanonded. It is unclear just why, Slave raiders from nearby Puerto Rico may have been the reason. And the Native Americans may have sucumed to European diseases. Europen countries vied for control of the Islands. The Spanish had an advantage because of the nearby colony of Puerto Rico, a relatively large colony. As with many small islands, the Spanish made no serious efforts to colonize the islands. Slave raiders from Puerto Rico made sweeps through the Islands. In the end, however, control of the Virgins would be a matter of naval power and European diplomacy. England and the Netherlands in a rare act of colonial cooperation jointly established a settlement on St. Croix (1620s). The Spanish attacked the small, vulnerable settlement. Next the French took possession and controlled St. Croix for a century. The Danish West India Company first attempted to settle St. Thomas (1665). A subsequent effort suceded (1672). The Danish began with 113 settlers. They next settled St. John (1694). The three islands became known as the Danish West Indies. The Virgin Islands archipelago were divided into two territorial units, one English and the other Danish (17th century). The Danes rapidly developed a plantation-based economy to produce suggar based on slave labor. Denmark was a participant in the trans-Atlantic slave trade. It was not one of the major players, but Danish slavers are believed to have transport of around 100,000 slaves from Africa to the West Indies. It shold be stressed that the sugar plantations in the West Indies were not like American plantations. The Caribbean sugar plantations were essentially death camps. Thee mortality rate was so high that ghy had ti be cionstantly supplied with captive Africans. The Danish West Indian Company purchased St. Croix from the French (1733). The three islands became known as the Danish West Indies. Denmark did not have a powerful navy which was needed to sustanin Caribbean colonies. The Danes did, however, maintain generally friendly relatins with the British which thus enabled them to retain their islands while the British, Dutch, French, and Spanish fought each other for control of the Caribbean. In the wake of the French Revolution, Denmark outlawed the slave trade (1792/1803). Danish slaves were no nliberated for several decadeds in the wake of another revolution (1848). The economny in the Danish VirginIslands was based on sugar and slave labor. With the end of slavery, the ecionomy flundered abnd the Danes decided to sell the islands. No one was particulsrly unterested. The Virgins remained Danish until World War I. War in Europe raised American concern about the security of the Panama Canal. Denmark remained neutral in the War, but had no substantial army. This left it vulnerable to Germany which had a powerful highseas fleet. The primary American interest was the defense of the Panama Canal and the possibility that Germany might invade Denmark or otherwise acquire the islands. The United States negotiated the purchase of the Islands for $25 million (1917). The Danes insisted on payment in gold. The Danish West Indies thus became the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Created: 6:40 PM 5/28/2018
Last updated: 6:40 PM 5/28/2018