Page 83 - The Virgin Islands

A large part of all West Indian trade was channelled through the har- works and social reform projects were undertaken. Governors were
bor. Of the 14,000 inhabitants, many of them free, only about 2,500 appointed from 1931 until 1969 when the first elected governor took
(mostly slaves) gained their living on plantations. A substantial seg- office. The capital of the island group is Charlotte Amalie, on St. Thom-
ment of free Blacks worked as clerks, shop keepers and artisans. The as. As air and sea travel increased in the 1950s prosperity returned to
population and atmosphere was very cosmopolitan, particularly in Charlotte Amalie and St. Thomas. Tourism continued to grow in the
comparison to its sister island of St. Croix where plantation life was years thereafter. The island saw an increase in population as immi-
the norm. It is on St. Croix that a slave revolt in 1848 prompted the grants from other Caribbean islands came in hopes of finding work in
abolition of slavery in the Danish West Indies. the developing tourism industry. St. Thomas moved into the 21st cen-
With the increase of steamships in the 1840’s St. Thomas continued tury maintaining its prominence as one of the Caribbean’s top vacation
forward by becoming a coaling station for ships running between destinations and Charlotte Amalie as a favorite cruise ship port of call.
South and North America. Shipping lines made Charlotte Amalie their
headquarters. Later advancements in steam and political climate made
it possible for Spanish and English islands to import directly from pro-
ducers, therefore skipping St. Thomas. By the 1860’s the end of pros-
perity loomed in the horizon. Coaling however, would continue until
about 1935. Coaling ships was an occupation largely filled by women.
In the late 1800s through early 1900s, several major natural disasters
including hurricanes, fires and a tsunami left Charlotte Amalie want-
ing for major re-building. Years passed before the old warehouses that
once stored goods for trade would be rebuilt to house the fancy bou-
tiques and stores that line the streets today. On St. Croix, plantations
were suffering with labor issues and low market prices on sugar. The
Danish West Indies became more and more dependant on Denmark,
and its treasury, during these difficult times.

Negotiations between the United States and Denmark were initiated
on several occasions between 1865 and 1917 when the final deal was
struck and the United States bought the Danish West Indies for $25
million. The United States flag was hoisted on the three ‘’Virgin Is-
lands of America’ on the 31st of March 1917. The islands remained
under US Navy Rule until 1931; during that time several major public