In 1917 Denmark sold its West Indian colonies with their inhabitants to the United States of America for twenty-five million dollars in gold in accordance with the terms of this Treaty signed by both parties. By that transaction, the United States enhanced its military and economic hegemony within the Caribbean region, while Denmark rid itself of an economic liability and a failed, and increasingly troublesome, social order. The people of the newly created Virgin Islands of the United States were given no official say in the matter. The transfer ceremony took place on March 31, 1917.
In this activity, students will use questions to investigate the treaty of acquisition between Denmark and the United States for the Danish West Indies. They will understand how the United States acquired the islands that became the U.S. Virgin Islands, examine its status as a territory and debate other options for its status such as statehood and independence.
Activity Type
Historical Period:
About
Primary Sources in this Activity
Suggested Teaching Instructions
Before using this activity, lead the class in a discussion about primary sources as needed. Introduce the document the class will be studying, and define treaty and hegemony as needed.
Ask students to list populated U.S. Territories? There are five. (American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marina Islands, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.)
Load the document “Major Political & Constitutional Documents of the United States Virgin Islands” onto an interactive smart board, in the left column under Early United States rule, click on Treaty of Acquisition 1917, and then have students make observations and read the treaty together. If there is not a smart board, students can work in small groups at computers.
Also load the Analyze a Written Document worksheet on the smart board or on computers so that you can lead students through discussing the answers to questions on the worksheet.
