Danmark på hæld - Slavehandel på Dansk Vestindien i 250 ÅR!

Summary

The history of the Danish West Indies, now the U.S. Virgin Islands, began in 1672 when Denmark established a colony on St. Thomas. They expanded to St. Jan and St. Croix, the latter becoming a hub for sugar production, relying heavily on enslaved Africans transported under dire conditions. Slavery was abolished in 1848 after a revolt on St. Croix. The islands were sold to the U.S. in 1917 for $25 million to prevent a German naval base, marking the end of Danish colonial rule. The Danish archives, which document the islands' history, were digitized for public access in 2017.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Danish West Indies was established in 1672 when Denmark sent a fleet to St. Thomas, a largely uninhabited island.
• 😀 St. Thomas was declared a Danish colony after the fleet arrived and raised the flag on the island.
• 😀 Denmark expanded its territory by purchasing St. Jan from France, which was not suitable for sugar cane cultivation due to its mountainous terrain.
• 😀 The island of St. Croix was also purchased and became a major sugar-producing colony due to its fertile plain.
• 😀 Sugar cultivation on St. Croix relied heavily on enslaved Africans, with about 1,000 slaves being transported from Africa to the West Indies.
• 😀 The journey for slaves aboard Danish ships was extremely harsh, with terrible living conditions and diseases such as dysentery, yellow fever, and malaria.
• 😀 Around 20% of slaves perished before reaching the West Indies due to the conditions on the slave ships.
• 😀 In 1848, a significant slave revolt occurred on St. Croix, leading to the abolition of slavery in the Danish West Indies by Governor-General Peter von Scholten.
• 😀 Attempts were made in the late 19th century to sell the islands to the United States, but these efforts failed.
• 😀 In 1917, during World War I, the United States successfully negotiated to purchase the Danish West Indies for 25 million gold dollars, renaming them the U.S. Virgin Islands.
• 😀 The sale agreement in 1917 included the condition that Danish records and documents about the islands were not transferred to the U.S., and they were returned to Denmark's National Archives in Copenhagen.

Q & A

When did the Danish West Indies begin as a colony?

The Danish West Indies began in 1672 when the Danes sent a small fleet to the West Indies and established a colony on the island of St. Thomas.

Why did the Danes choose St. Thomas as a colony?

St. Thomas was largely uninhabited, making it an ideal place for the Danes to settle and establish a colony by putting a flag on the beach.

What other islands did the Danes acquire after St. Thomas?

After St. Thomas, the Danes expanded to the nearby island of St. Jan, and later acquired St. Croix from France.

Why was St. Croix significant for sugar production?

St. Croix was ideal for sugar cane cultivation due to its large and fertile plain, making it perfect for growing sugar cane, which became the island's main product.

Where did the slaves used for sugar cane cultivation come from?

The slaves were primarily brought from Africa, with about 1,000 of them being transported on Danish ships. Some slaves were also brought from other Caribbean islands.

What were the conditions like on the slave ships?

The conditions on the slave ships were extremely harsh, with slaves receiving very little food and water, leading to high mortality rates due to diseases like dysentery, yellow fever, and malaria.

What major event happened in 1848 in the Danish West Indies?

In 1848, a major slave revolt took place on St. Croix, which led to the abolition of slavery on July 3, 1848, by Governor-General Peter von Scholten.

What attempts were made after the abolition of slavery?

After the abolition of slavery, the Danes attempted to sell the Danish West Indies to the United States, but these efforts were unsuccessful until the outbreak of World War I.

Why did the United States want to purchase the Danish West Indies in 1917?

The United States feared that Germany might establish a naval base on the islands during World War I, so they approached Denmark to buy the colony to prevent this.

How much did the United States pay for the Danish West Indies in 1917?

The United States purchased the Danish West Indies for 25 million gold dollars on March 31, 1917.

What happened to the Danish records of the colony after the sale in 1917?

The Danish records, including papers and furnishings from public buildings, were not included in the sale. The Danes took them back to Denmark, and these records are now kept in the National Archives in Copenhagen.

What effort was made in connection with the 100th anniversary of the sale in 2017?

In 2017, to mark the 100th anniversary of the sale, funds were raised to digitize the West Indian archives, ensuring free and unhindered access to the historical records.