This week in history

March 31, 1917, The United States formally took possession of the Danish West Indies, now known as the Virgin Islands. The United States purchased the islands from Denmark for $25 million. The Strategic location was important given their location in relation to the Panama Canal.

As European nations continued to colonize, the islands were caught in a back and forth “ownership” between Spain and France as a ruler. Danish settlers arrived and grew sugar cane using convicted criminals and later slave labor. Over time, Saint Thomas Island became a major Caribbean slave market.

Source(s): Library of Congress

Compiled by Bob Valen