NAVAL ADMINISTRATION OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS; 1917-1921

Naval Administration of the United States Virgin Islands (1917-1931)

There has been much criticism of the naval rule of the United States Virgin Islands from 1917-1931. I intend to briefly examine some of the factors that could lead to the criticism or praise of the Navy’s administration of the islands. The title of this research paper, for me, reflects the strong arm tactics that the U.S. government used in the Caribbean during this time period, as well as the hope and unsurety for the islands future with such great obstacles to overcome. I will attempt to illustrate some of the political, social, and economic ironies that arise at this time in the history of the Virgin Islands.

There has been an American interest in the Virgin Islands even before the United States became an independent country. The Danish West Indies has a history of trade with the United States from its pre-revolutionary days on through the Civil War and on until 1917, when, the United States purchased the Danish West Indies, in the midst of World War I. Through out time the Danish West Indies has proven to be important to America for different reasons at different times. In pre-revolutionary A

In the first ten years of naval rule the accomplishments in health, sanitation, and education were bright. In 1917 the death rate was forty-one and one-half per cent per 1000; by 1927 it had decreased to twenty-two and eight-tenths per cent per 1000 inhabitants. New water and sewage systems made conditions much more acceptable. In the light of education teacher’s wages were raised, hours children must go to school was raised, many scholarships were made available and a number of new schools were developed. There were a number of other accomplishments made; I gave example just to illustrate the trend. Infrastructure was on the rise yet other issues persisted.

Some topics in this essay:
Virgin Islands, American Control, Planters Laborers, West Indies, Admiral Oliver, Eastern Caribbean, Monroe Doctrine, Virgin Islanders, United Denmark, Islands United, virgin islands, danish west, west indies, danish west indies, naval rule, naval administration, virgin islanders, united virgin islands, united virgin, political social, social economic, islands united, political social economic, virgin islands american, history virgin islands,