A brief history of the Virgin Islands

There are records of habitation in about 2000BC.The settlers, Pre Ceramic Ciboneys, probably having travelled from North America. They were joined in about 100AD, by Arawak Indians who travelled throughout the islands from South America in huge dugout canoes, capable of carrying 100 passengers! In 1300 a further band of Arawak's arrived, known as the Taino; they were short, with high cheekbones and straight dark hair. They wore no clothes, except the married women who were allowed an apron, and used copper coloured body paint and red, white and blue colours on their faces.

During the 15th Century the islands were invaded by the Caribs, who occupied the islands until they were discovered on Christopher Colombus's second voyage on in 1493. Colombus named the islands St Ursula and the 11,000 Virgins, in honour of a 4th century princess who had been raped and murdered, along with 11,000 maidens. Tortola took it's name from the Spanish 'Turtledove' and Virgin Gorda, from 'the Fat Virgin' .

The islands remained under Spanish control until the English defeated the Spanish Armada in 1588. Following the destruction of the once powerful Spanish navy, the English, French and Dutch issued letters of authority to 'Privateers' , as agents of the Crown, giving them rights to explore and claim territory, in the name of their country.

In 1595 the English Privateers Sir Francis Drake and Jack Hawkins used the Virgin Islands as a base for attacks on Puerto Rico and Spanish shipping. They were followed by Dutch and French privateers, who were attracted by the superb natural harbours. The plethora of safe harbours also made the islands a haven for pirates, including Henry Morgan and Blackbeard, (Edward Teach)  their dens are legendary and include Sopers Hole and The Bight on Norman Island.

During the 17th Century the British, Danes, Dutch and Spanish squabbled over the islands, eventually being settled by the Danes on St Thomas, St John and the eastern islands, and the British on Tortola. Following the treaty of Utrecht in 1713, which brought peace in Europe, the rivalries that gave the Pirates such scope in the Caribbean ceased, and peace ensued. The West Indies became an important source of sugar and cotton, fuelled by slave labour. By 1790 it is estimated that there were over 40,000 slaves in the islands. There followed various revolts and rebellions until emancipation in 1848 (despite the British Parliament abolishing slavery in 1834), which brought a new set of challenges with economic decline.

During the 1890's the Americans opened negotiations to purchase the Danish Virgin Islands, (the Danish and Americans having previously been close as the Danes supplied smuggled goods to support the American Revolution in 1776). The Americans realised the strategic importance of a coaling station for steamships and agreement was nearly reached in 1867, but the Americans baulked at the $7.5million. The Americans made another bid in 1902, but the Danes hoped the Germans might pay more! This concerned the Americans who eventually agreed, in 1917 to purchase the islands for $25m in gold - $290 an acre! Despite early hopes, the occupants were soon disappointed at the lack of investment from the US colonisation just as those on Tortola and the other British Virgin Islands following the proclamation of a Crown Colony in 1870. The Americans even tried to enforce prohibition and in 1931 President Hoover visited the islands and proclaimed, after a visit of less than 6 hours, that it was unfortunate that they had ever bothered to purchase the islands!

President Franklin D Roosevelt however felt differently in 1934 and saw the potential. There followed huge investment resulting in draining swamps, new roads, hotels, and a cruise ship terminal. In 1936 all occupants of the US Virgin Islands were granted US Citizenship. Meanwhile there was little investment in the neighbouring British Virgin Islands, a trend that has continued to date, resulting the much quieter, laid back approach in the BVI. In 1967 the BVI became an independent colony and the USVI won the right to elect their own governor the following year.