Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Creole, lived with the daughter of a freed slave and peti-
tioned the king to free the slaves.
Finally, he initiated a policy of “gradualism,” which eventu-
ally would free the slaves. It was too little, too late. Resent-
ment boiled over into rebellion and Von Scholten reacted by
granting the slaves freedom.
Although recalled to Denmark and tried, he was finally ac-
quitted. The situation for the slaves was horrible; they were
left in abject poverty. Labor riots went on for years and re-
sulted in the burning of Frederiksted (St. Croix).
During the US Civil War, Confederate ships used St.
Thomas as a base from which to disrupt shipping. This
brought the island's strategic location to the attention of
Lincoln. Negotiations began with Denmark and a deal was
cut to buy the islands for $7 millon dollars. It was voted
down by Congress.
On March 31, 1917, the US finally did buy the Virgin Islands
from Denmark for $25 million. The major reason behind the
purchase was to prevent them from falling to the Germans,
who could use them to disrupt shipping through the Panama
Canal. Once acquired, the US ignored the islands and it
wasn't until 1927 that residents were granted US citizen-
ship.
The Islands Today
The US Virgin Islands remain today an un-
incorporated territory of the US. The terri-
tory was administered by the Navy until
1931, when it was placed under the supervi-
sion of the Dept. of the Interior. The gover-
nor of the islands was appointed by the President. Since it
was a patronage job, the appointee had no intimate knowl-
edge of the islands and the problems facing them.
In 1954, Congress passed the Basic Organic Act, which pro-
vided for a locally elected legislature comprised of 15 mem-
bers. These serve two-year terms. The Basic Organic Act
