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The The Virgin Virgin Islands Islands Lonely Lonely Planet Guide Planet Guide

The Virgin Islands Lonely Planet Guide Lonely Planet Guide

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Page 1: The Virgin Islands Lonely Planet Guide Lonely Planet Guide

The Virgin The Virgin IslandsIslands

Lonely Planet Lonely Planet GuideGuide

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Current statusCurrent status The Virgin Islands of the The Virgin Islands of the

United States is an United States is an organized, unincorporated organized, unincorporated territory of the United States territory of the United States located immediately east of located immediately east of Puerto Rico Puerto Rico

More than 50 separate More than 50 separate islands and cays constitute islands and cays constitute this westernmost group of this westernmost group of the Lesser Antilles, only the Lesser Antilles, only three have size and three have size and population of any population of any significance: significance:

St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. JohnSt. John

The capital is Charlotte The capital is Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas Amalie on St. Thomas

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Island taxi $1Island taxi $1

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Cruzan Rum DistilleryCruzan Rum Distillery

Caribbean Rum Balls

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Udder Delite Dairy BarUdder Delite Dairy Bar

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Tickles Dockside PubTickles Dockside Pub

Tickles websiteTickles website

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Blackbeard’s CastleBlackbeard’s Castle

Downtown, near Parrotfish Music

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View from Blackbeard’s CastleView from Blackbeard’s Castle

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Some historySome history European discovery of the European discovery of the

islands occurred when islands occurred when Columbus first sighted Columbus first sighted Santa Cruz, now known as Santa Cruz, now known as St. CroixSt. Croix

Exploring further, he found Exploring further, he found the islands of St. Thomas, the islands of St. Thomas, St. John, Tortola (part of St. John, Tortola (part of what is now the British what is now the British Virgin Islands), and others, Virgin Islands), and others, and named them collectively and named them collectively Las Virgenes (a name that Las Virgenes (a name that means the Virgins, means the Virgins, supposedly for the 11,000 supposedly for the 11,000 virgins of St. Ursula) virgins of St. Ursula)

In the 17th century, the In the 17th century, the islands became part of the islands became part of the colonial struggle waged by colonial struggle waged by France, England, Spain, France, England, Spain, Holland, and Denmark, with Holland, and Denmark, with the islands' sugar the islands' sugar production the primary production the primary reason for controlling them reason for controlling them

Denmark chartered the Denmark chartered the Danish West Indian Danish West Indian Company and began Company and began colonizing St. Thomas (1671) colonizing St. Thomas (1671) and then St. John (1684) and then St. John (1684)

Denmark purchased St. Denmark purchased St. Croix from France in 1733Croix from France in 1733 and maintained control until and maintained control until 19171917

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History continuedHistory continued As early as 1865, for As early as 1865, for

strategic military strategic military reasons, the United reasons, the United States made overtures States made overtures to acquire the islands. to acquire the islands. During World War I, During World War I, fear that Germany fear that Germany might occupy the might occupy the islands provided the islands provided the final impetus for the final impetus for the United States to United States to purchase the islands purchase the islands from Denmark, for $25 from Denmark, for $25 million on March 31, million on March 31, 1917.1917.

In 1927, Virgin In 1927, Virgin Islanders were Islanders were granted U.S. granted U.S. citizenship. Since citizenship. Since 1970, they have 1970, they have elected their elected their governor, lieutenant governor, lieutenant governor, and a 15-governor, and a 15-member legislature. member legislature. Since 1973, the Since 1973, the Virgin Islands have Virgin Islands have been represented in been represented in the U.S. House of the U.S. House of Representatives by Representatives by a nonvoting a nonvoting delegate. delegate.

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GovernmentGovernment The only functioning The only functioning

governmental unit in the governmental unit in the Virgin Islands is the Virgin Islands is the territorial government. On territorial government. On October 11,1993, Virgin October 11,1993, Virgin Islanders had the Islanders had the opportunity to consider opportunity to consider changing the territory's changing the territory's relationship with the United relationship with the United States. Eighty percent voted States. Eighty percent voted to retain territorial status; to retain territorial status; however, the referendum however, the referendum was legally meaningless was legally meaningless because more than 50 because more than 50 percent of the eligible voters percent of the eligible voters had to participate, but only had to participate, but only 27.4 percent did so. 27.4 percent did so.

Trunk Bay, St. Thomas

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Slavery in Virgin IslandsSlavery in Virgin Islands Sugar production in the West Sugar production in the West

Indies was an extremely Indies was an extremely lucrative affair. The sudden lucrative affair. The sudden introduction of sugar to Europe introduction of sugar to Europe created a great demand for this created a great demand for this exotic new product. With this exotic new product. With this high demand and preciously high demand and preciously small supply, the price of sugar small supply, the price of sugar was high, and the profit was high, and the profit potential was enormous. Many potential was enormous. Many of those involved in this new of those involved in this new industry were able to industry were able to accumulate great wealth and accumulate great wealth and power. It has been said that the power. It has been said that the only present day business only present day business comparable to the sugar trade comparable to the sugar trade of the colonial days is drug of the colonial days is drug trafficking. trafficking.

European colonial powers European colonial powers battled fiercely over control of battled fiercely over control of the new colonies. Pirates and the new colonies. Pirates and privateers infested the seas in privateers infested the seas in an orgy of murder and plunder. an orgy of murder and plunder. Worst of all was the Worst of all was the development of slavery as an development of slavery as an institution in the Americas. institution in the Americas. Slave labor was employed for Slave labor was employed for the exploitation, settlement, and the exploitation, settlement, and development of the new development of the new territories. territories.

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Pirates….yes, of the CaribbeanPirates….yes, of the Caribbean

Anne Bonney Pirate she was!Blackbeard at his castle: St. Thomas

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Slavery, con’tSlavery, con’t The Danish government and the government-supported and The Danish government and the government-supported and

subsidized Danish West India Company tried to encourage subsidized Danish West India Company tried to encourage young Danes to emigrate to St. Thomas to labor on the young Danes to emigrate to St. Thomas to labor on the plantations. Very few responded. plantations. Very few responded.

Prisoners were then brought over to work as indentured Prisoners were then brought over to work as indentured servants with the stipulation that they would receive their servants with the stipulation that they would receive their freedom after six years, though few would survive that long. freedom after six years, though few would survive that long. Apart from this, indentured servitude was exactly the same as Apart from this, indentured servitude was exactly the same as slavery. They lived, ate and worked with the slaves and were slavery. They lived, ate and worked with the slaves and were subject to the same arbitrary punishments. Their social subject to the same arbitrary punishments. Their social position was of the lowest order and they were looked down position was of the lowest order and they were looked down upon by both Africans and Europeans. upon by both Africans and Europeans.

The prisoners viewed emigration to the colonies as a death The prisoners viewed emigration to the colonies as a death sentence. Their desperation and discontent resulted in sentence. Their desperation and discontent resulted in mutinies and resistance. In response, the Danes began to place mutinies and resistance. In response, the Danes began to place more emphasis on the importation of slave labor from Africa. more emphasis on the importation of slave labor from Africa.

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The first African slaves were brought to Hispaniola in The first African slaves were brought to Hispaniola in 1502, and slavery was not completely abolished until the 1502, and slavery was not completely abolished until the early twentieth century. During this roughly four hundred early twentieth century. During this roughly four hundred year span, it has been estimated that as many as 12 year span, it has been estimated that as many as 12 million Africans were unwillingly transported to the million Africans were unwillingly transported to the Americas.Americas.

The institution of slavery that developed in the The institution of slavery that developed in the colonization of the Americas was, first and foremost, a colonization of the Americas was, first and foremost, a business. It was characterized by the profit motive, business. It was characterized by the profit motive, greed, and lacked morality, compassion and human greed, and lacked morality, compassion and human decency. The Europeans' need for cheap labor created decency. The Europeans' need for cheap labor created the demand. The existence of slaves acquired through the demand. The existence of slaves acquired through the persistent warring of African nations provided the the persistent warring of African nations provided the supply. Thus, a market and trade for human beings was supply. Thus, a market and trade for human beings was established. established.

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Blackbeard’s view over the bayBlackbeard’s view over the bay

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Carrying coalCarrying coal Current resident

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St. JohnSt. John

Population: c. 5000Population: c. 5000

Size: 20 square miles Size: 20 square miles

7 miles long and 3 miles wide7 miles long and 3 miles wide

Highest Point: 1,277 - Bordeaux MountainHighest Point: 1,277 - Bordeaux Mountain

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Slave revolt of 1733Slave revolt of 1733 In 1733 there was a revolt on St. John against plantation In 1733 there was a revolt on St. John against plantation

owners and against slavery. On November 23rd, about owners and against slavery. On November 23rd, about 14 slaves entered Fortsberg with cane knives hidden in 14 slaves entered Fortsberg with cane knives hidden in bundles of wood. They killed 6 out of 7 men in the bundles of wood. They killed 6 out of 7 men in the garrison, took over the fort and fired one cannon to garrison, took over the fort and fired one cannon to signal to the other slaves that the revolt had begun. signal to the other slaves that the revolt had begun.

The events that lead up to the revolt included; the The events that lead up to the revolt included; the adoption of a harsh slave code, the arrival of an elite adoption of a harsh slave code, the arrival of an elite group of African tribal rulers who preferred death to life group of African tribal rulers who preferred death to life as slaves and a summer of natural disasters, including a as slaves and a summer of natural disasters, including a drought, two hurricanes, insect plaque and the possibility drought, two hurricanes, insect plaque and the possibility of famine of famine

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The toll?The toll? The seven month revolt The seven month revolt

left many Europeans and left many Europeans and Africans dead. The Africans dead. The recorded population at recorded population at the time of the revolt was the time of the revolt was 1295. That was 1087 1295. That was 1087 slaves and 208 freemen. slaves and 208 freemen.

During the revolt almost a During the revolt almost a quarter of the island's quarter of the island's population was killed and population was killed and large plantations were large plantations were destroyed. Many slaves destroyed. Many slaves killed themselves when killed themselves when they thought the soldiers they thought the soldiers were going to capture were going to capture them. French and Swiss them. French and Swiss soldiers from a soldiers from a neighboring island came neighboring island came to the aid of the Danes to the aid of the Danes and settled the revolt.and settled the revolt.

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Senator Shawn Michael MaloneSenator Shawn Michael Malone

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QuelbeQuelbe

Bembe + quadrille = quelbe??Bembe + quadrille = quelbe??

Now the official music of the USVI. Now the official music of the USVI. Adopted in 2003, December.Adopted in 2003, December.

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He’s the manHe’s the man

Jamesie BrewsterJamesie Brewster Got his first recording Got his first recording

contract at age 78 contract at age 78 with Rounder with Rounder RecordsRecords

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What is Quelbe?What is Quelbe? “It is a true, hybrid, Afro-Caribbean folk tradition of the

Virgin Islands. Take the quadrille, the European dance craze that

started in the mid-1700’s in France and migrated to the new world by the mid-1800’s.

Add African percussion instruments, including banjos, gourds, triangles, and even a kitchen sink if it has good tone.

Mix well for the next hundred and fifty years along with the African spirit that led slaves to sing gossip in the streets (it is said that a good song could make it’s way from Christiansted to Frederiksted, a distance of over 18 miles, within 48 hours) and you have the core of quelbe music.” Peter Des Jardins, St. Croix

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Purpose historicallyPurpose historically Slaves in the cane fields, Slaves in the cane fields,

when they wanted to talk when they wanted to talk to each other, would sing to each other, would sing messages, news, gossip messages, news, gossip and other bits of and other bits of information in a way that information in a way that the slavemasters could the slavemasters could not understand. They not understand. They also used it to plan also used it to plan revolts. revolts.

Quelbe music was a kind Quelbe music was a kind of “oral newspaper” used of “oral newspaper” used to spread gossip or share to spread gossip or share the day’s events.the day’s events.

““Quelbe recorded the Quelbe recorded the history of the day,” said history of the day,” said Freeman. “If you did Freeman. “If you did something controversial, something controversial, you’d end up in a song.”you’d end up in a song.”

One popular Quelbe song, One popular Quelbe song, LaBega Carousel, shares LaBega Carousel, shares the story of a Puerto Rican the story of a Puerto Rican man named LaBega who man named LaBega who brought a carousel to St. brought a carousel to St. Croix in the 1930s. LaBega Croix in the 1930s. LaBega believed laborers were not believed laborers were not worthy of a pay raise, and worthy of a pay raise, and the song, still popular the song, still popular today, suggests boycotting today, suggests boycotting the carousel.the carousel.

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Basic messageBasic message

I rather walk and drink rum whole night I rather walk and drink rum whole night Before me go ride on LaBega Carousel Before me go ride on LaBega Carousel You no hear what LaBega say, You no hear what LaBega say, ‘The people no worth more than fifteen ‘The people no worth more than fifteen cent a day’cent a day’I am walking, I am looking, I am I am walking, I am looking, I am begging begging Before me go ride on LaBega Carousel.Before me go ride on LaBega Carousel.