Do DUers know that the US Virgin islands were Danish?

[malaise]

LOL

The total land area of the territory is 133.73 square miles (346.36 km2). The territory's capital is Charlotte Amalie on the island of St. Thomas. Previously known as the Danish West Indies of the Kingdom of Denmark–Norway, they were sold to the United States by Denmark in the Treaty of the Danish West Indies of 1917.

[MontanaMama]

1. I didn't know that.

Probably should’ve...

[malaise]

5. One of my former colleagues did a lot of historical work

on the Danish West Indies - his wife was from Denmark

Slave society in the Danish West Indies: St. Thomas, St. John, & St. Croix. By Neville A. T. Hall. Edited by B. W. Higman

[struggle4progress]

2. "Those tricky Danes sold us the Virgin Islands when we thought we were buying Greenland!"

[hlthe2b]

3. How many know that there are 23 countries in North America AND...

another 22 dependent territories, including Greenland. DUers may be more likely to know that, but in general, I would guess there are a lot who think Canada and the US and perhaps some realize Mexico likewise comprises North America, but forget about all the smaller countries, much less the territories.

So, the geography versus the control of countries in this hemisphere always were and continue to be all over the map--quite literally.

[malaise]

7. The view that North America means

the USA is typical of hegemonic powers

[LeftInTX]

43. It includes all of the Caribbean, including Aruba, Trinidad and Tobago & all of the Central America

So, unless you know this....
Much of the Caribbean are on their own plate. Panama (Formerly Columbia) is an isthmus between N and S America

I'm surprised that Aruba and Trinidad and Tobago are considered NA. It appears to be right off the coast of Venezuela and are closer to S America than most of the Florida Keys are to Florida.

[greatauntoftriplets]

4. Ironic, isn't it?

I wonder if the president of the USVI knows that.

[malaise]

6. I'm betting he is clueless

[marble falls]

8. We paid $25M in gold for them in 1917. One more history lesson you made ...

learn about!

[appalachiablue]

9. I knew it, also the earliest records about Alexander Hamilton

are in Danish, noted in his mother's probate will in St. Croix 1768 when he was 13 yo.

AH was born on the island of Nevis, near St. Kitts, as you know M.

I saw those two, but never could get a flight to VI, they were always booked!

Thanks for posting, folks need to know Caribbean history incl. slavery which involved many powers besides England- eg France, Spain, Holland, Portugal, Denmark..

Wiki, Alexander Hamilton:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Hamilton

[malaise]

10. Yes I knew Hamilton had Caribbean connections

By the way was it recently retired Justice Kennedy who has a summer home in Nevis? I think I discovered that when thieves broke in one night. I am now curious about the location and if it is connected to AH's family property although I'm sure some hurricane would have destroyed that by now.

[appalachiablue]

11. I haven't kept up but you've peaked interest

so I'll look into more- Justice Kennedy, good for him. And Hamilton's mom's Nevis place shouldn't be too hard to find on that small island.

We stayed at a low key cute place on St. Kitts, can't recall the name-- but were so annoyed to learn that we just missed Jimmy Buffet who stopped by to play Sat. nite in the dining room. Bummer to miss him, but it was a great visit anyway.

Diana and boys were there (Nevis) when the kids were small of course.. Ah, love those tropics!

My dad found a possible early ancestor in records of Barbados, 1600s- maybe was 'Badosed' for ill behavior, you know oops..

[malaise]

12. Fascinating - there are many connections with both Barbados and St Kitts and the US

Both are the early British colonies in these parts.
St Kitts is a pretty little island. I love that seafood restaurant in the water.

[greatauntoftriplets]

15. I've been to the house where Hamilton was born in Nevis.

[appalachiablue]

31. Thanks, here it is. *M, I just saw an article w many AH sites in NY

and the Caribbean noted, (Architectural Digest)- I can't get the link to copy. Check it out maybe-



- Alexander Hamilton Museum (Birthplace & Home), Charlestown, Nevis.

[greatauntoftriplets]

33. It's a nice house.

Very typical of many buildings in Nevis. It's a very interesting place on a beautiful island.

[malaise]

34. Fabulous

Thanks

[Historic NY]

13. Yes and that businessmen stole Hawaii.

Last edited Sun Aug 18, 2019, 01:12 AM - Edit history (2)

[virgogal]

24. What do you mean,newspapermen?

[Historic NY]

45. should have said businessman

[virgogal]

50. Thanks,you had me a tad confused.

[Vogon_Glory]

14. I knew. It powered some of my snarky commentary

I also remarked that the Danes have had at least sixty years of sellers’ regret for having done so, considering how much money that cruise ships and tourism brings to the USVI.

[malaise]

17. Yep

although that tourism is US tourism as an offshoot from Puerto Rico

[NightWatcher]

16. And New York City used to be New Amsterdam. Why they changed it, I can't say.

[malaise]

19. That was Dutch

New Amsterdam is still the Capital of the county of Berbice in Guyana - that too was once Dutch. It's right next door to Suriname.

[NightWatcher]

20. Was going for a joke but I obviously missed.

I made the mistake in Rotterdam of switching Dutch and Danes in something trivial ( I don't even remember what it was, but it was minor) but it wasn't small to them. It was like I had set a Pope on fire at The Vatican.

I'd never mistake them again.

[malaise]

21. LOL

People are so sensitive about where they're from. I'll never get it.

[NightWatcher]

22. I'm from Georgia. I lost the accent on purpose so it doesn't show.

I still like parts, but don't want to be taken for a giant racist cracker.

[malaise]

25. Ha

My oldest sister actually lived in Greenland - can you believe that?
What a world.

[Mike_DuBois]

46. And yet you use a giant racist term yourself

SMDH

[NightWatcher]

49. I can say cracker because I come from a long line of... how many of your great uncles have klan uni?

Me, 2.

I come from crackers (and some very fine salt of the earth people as well) and I can use the term.

Thanks

[Mike_DuBois]

51. I have no relatives with Klan background, thank you very much

Fairly presumptive and insulting for you to insinuate so.

[NightWatcher]

54. No dude, I was saying I'm prob the only one with the most unkles.

No offense meant dude.

[Mike_DuBois]

55. Ah okay. Cool

[treestar]

53. Delaware was Dutch too

for a short while - the Hudson was the North River and the Delaware River was the South River.

Delaware was Swedish for a while in the 1600s and is the only colony Sweden ever had.

[RussBLib]

18. Bargain

They are gorgeous

[Judi Lynn]

23. Sure didn't, and thank you. n/t

[Sneederbunk]

26. Interestingly, Denmark Vesey was not Danish.

[malaise]

27. Still I suspect that his name was connected to

the Danish presence on the island.
I learned about him on DU.

[onetexan]

28. Laurance Rockefeller actually owned half of St. John, then gifted it to the US government

with condition he can operate his resort property on Caneel Bay:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/on-the-trail-the-virgin-island-that-remained-virgin/

I've been to all 3 main islands. Very beautiful tropical gems.

[malaise]

29. Very interesting

I did not know that

[flotsam]

30. My Granddaughter is in her Junior year

at the University of the Virgin Islands. She's chasing her BS in marine biology and loves it there. Her final pick of schools was between there and University of Maine. I merely told her if I had a choice of diving in the Gulf of Maine or the Caribbean the choice wouldn't be that hard...

[malaise]

32. Ha - no choice there

How is the island since the hurricane in 2017?

[flotsam]

36. Still a little rocky

but they actually lost less than a semester. Still rebuilding but in full operation. Interesting note, the school is a historically black university (HBCU) but my lily white Grandchild thrives there.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_the_Virgin_Islands

[malaise]

39. Those who love humanity can thrive anywhere

I'm so glad she's having a good time.

[greatauntoftriplets]

35. LOL.

I have a great-niece who wants to be a marine biologist and is starting at Colorado College in Colorado Springs. Go figure.

[flotsam]

37. Could of been UMaine....N/T

[greatauntoftriplets]

38. At least Maine has water and marine life.

[malaise]

42. This matters less these days

So many students from all over our planet read courses at other universities - she can do quite a few semesters overseas (or in coastal states) and earn her credits.

[greatauntoftriplets]

44. She can learn to dive in a pool, of course.

But since she'll probably go to graduate school, she can choose a location that has "real" water. Heck, even Lake Michigan near here has life in it, but that's appropriate only for summer diving since much of it freezes over during the winter.

[guillaumeb]

40. Interesting how colonialists can buy and sell what never actually belonged to them.

Recommended.

[malaise]

41. with human being - lock stock and barrel

We are a vile species

[Mike_DuBois]

47. I've applied for a.Census job in the US VI

Hoping to hear soon. Would love the opprtunity to do field work in paradise.

[malaise]

48. Good luck

Enjoy and take the opportunity to see some of the Caribbean

[treestar]

52. Did not know

Very interesting, thanks!