The first
inhabitants of the U S Virgin Islands were most likely immigrants
from South America, but the name Virgin Islands has been attributed to
the islands 13th century "discoverer", Christopher Columbus. Las Isla
Virgenes is, reportedly, a reference to both virgin forests and St.
Ursula's martyred virgins.
Since
Columbus landed in 1493, seven flags have flown over the islands -
Spain, Knights of Malta, France, England, Holland, Denmark and the
United States.
By the late
1600s, the Virgin Islands had become a major base for the slave trade
and one of Europe's major suppliers of cane sugar. Until the early
19th century, piracy also served as a major part of the Islands'
economy. One of the most famous pirates was Black Beard aka Edward
Teach.
In 1917, the
United States bought the Virgin Islands from Denmark for $25 million
in gold in order to prevent Germany from using it as a submarine
base during world War I. It wasn't until the 1950's that the Virgin
Islands became an important destination for American vacationers and
snow birds - those who winter on the islands.
Currently,
the United States Virgin Islands is a U.S. territory. In 1927, Virgin
Islanders were granted U.S. citizenship but do not vote in national
elections. Until the passage of 1936's Organic Act gave it the right
to self-governance, the Territory was managed by the Departments of
Defense and Interior.
In 1996, after
years of being owned by the Department of Interior, Water Island
became the newest addition to the US Virgin Islands. |
