Skip to content
Caribbean Genealogy Library Logo
  • Home
  • Activities
  • Worksheets
  • Resources
  • Contact Us
Menu Close

Poster advertising a meeting to discuss possible sale of the Danish West Indies to the United States

In this activity, students will use questions to examine a poster advertising a meeting on St. Thomas about the potential sale of the Danish West Indies to the United States of America. They will discuss the United States’ purchase of the Danish West Indies and consider concerns residents of the islands had related to the sale.

Activity Type
Poster
Historical Period:
Danish West Indies

About

Beginning in 1867, the United States made several attempts to acquire the Danish West Indies. Political difficulties prevented the first attempt in 1867, and the second attempt in 1902. The third attempt began in 1915. Many Danes resisted US acquisition of the islands. Some pushed for a treaty of sale that would provide US citizenship for the islanders, maintain free trade, allow for a local plebiscite, and maintain and guarantee the legal rights that Danish citizens in the islands already enjoyed. Not all these provisions were accepted, however a treaty for acquisition of the islands did pass in Denmark and in the United States. The United States paid Denmark $25,000,000 in gold coin for the islands, and the Danish West Indies were formally transferred from Denmark to the United States on March 31, 1917. Thereafter they were known as the United States Virgin Islands.

Who organized the meeting that is promoted in the poster? James C. Roberts.
The St. Thomas/St. John district and the St. Croix district elected three members to present the will of the people of the Danish West Indies related to the potential sale to the United States, to the Danish Parliamentary Commission of 1916. In St. Thomas, lawyer J.P. Jorgensen, Dr. Viggio Christensen and teacher James C. Roberts were to represent the different classes of inhabitants. In St. Croix, J. Stakemann, G.B. Fleming and Frank Coulter were selected. The delegates for both districts included two Danes and one local inhabitant. Meetings such as the one advertised in the poster were held to discuss the sale, and the community’s views and concerns. No official vote was offered to the residents of the Danish West Indies regarding the sale, but at community meetings there appeared to be an overwhelming support for the sale of the islands to the United States of America.

Primary Sources in this Activity

Item:
Poster advertising a meeting to discuss possible sale of the islands to the USA
Author / Artist:
Unknown
Source:
Danish Royal Library
View Primary Source

Suggested Teaching Instructions

Before beginning this activity, help students to understand what a primary source is, have students provide examples of primary sources, help them with examples if needed, discuss why a poster can be a primary source, and discuss the difference between primary sources and secondary sources.

Ask students what they know about 1917 in the history of the Virgin Islands? Do they know the significance of Transfer Day, which is recognized each year in the US Virgin Islands on March 31st? Ask students what country purchased the islands of St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John? And what country sold the islands? The teacher will help the students by prompting answers or provide the answers to the questions if no replies are provided by the students.

The teacher may use information from the About section provided to explain the sale of the islands to the United States. The teacher may reword the information as needed, or define any new words.

Load the poster onto an interactive smart board and have students make observations and read it together. If there is not a smart board, students can work in small groups at computers.

Also load the Analyze a Poster worksheet on the smart board or on computers so that you can lead students through answering the questions on the worksheet.

Analyze the Primary Source

You may load the Analyze a Poster worksheet on the smart board or on computers so that you can lead students through answering the questions, print the worksheet and distribute to your students, or adapt the questions from the worksheet to create your own. Primary Source Analysis Worksheets

Have students complete the Analyze a Poster worksheet individually, in small groups, or as a class. Help students as needed to complete the worksheets. Review their answers and their observations as a class.

Class Discussion

A Look at the Language used in the Poster: Look at all the bold words and points: Imperative, Immediate, To Protect our Status, No Lukewarmness, No Indifference, Vital to All, Come.

Discuss the meaning of any words or terms that students might not understand. Then ask: How were these words intended to stir up the population? Are these words we use today?

What were the Concerns: The teacher will lead students in a discussion about the five items this meeting’s organizer is concerned about and wants the community to discuss. Also, discuss what happened related to each concern.

  1. That the islands are managed directly under the Federal Government, and not under Puerto Rico.
  2. That citizenship be given to natives immediately.
  3. That the port remains free.
  4. That a delegation of natives be sent to Washington if necessary.
  5. That the West Indies be for West Indians.

How did the islands end up being managed after 1917? Was citizenship given immediately in 1917? (In 1920, Virgin Islanders had “American nationality” but not the “political status of citizens”. Full U.S. citizenship was provided to many in 1927, and for all residents born in the US Virgin Islands in 1932, both by an act of Congress.) The teacher can explain what is meant by “free port”. Then ask students, why was the port remaining free important to the economy of St. Thomas?

Project Ideas

Perspective: Ask students to pretend for a moment, that the US Virgin Islands will be sold and transferred to another country next year. What questions and concerns do they have about this? Write their concerns on the board. If students need help, prompt them with ideas. Would they be concerned about how things would work out? If the schools would be the same? If the language spoken would be the same or different? If any of the rights they enjoy would be lost? Could they remain an American? Would they be allowed to become a citizen of the new country? Could they remain in the islands, or would they have to leave? Have students look at the list they generated. Do they think children in 1915-1917 shared some of these concerns?

Related Books & Resources

Getting Started
Teach VI History has been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: CARES Act Emergency Relief Grants for Humanities, through the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands (CFVI). 
Caribbean Genealogy Library Logo
National Endowment for the Humanities

Getting Started

Resources

FAQ

Activities

Coloring Pages

Worksheets

Contact Us

Copyright © 2022 Caribbean Genealogy Library All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy

Close Menu