U.S. Virgin Islands

March 31, 1917

The U.S. takes possession of the Danish Virgin Islands after purchasing them from Denmark for $25 million in gold. The U.S. wanted strategic naval control in the Caribbean, as they were concerned that, after an invasion of Denmark, Germany might take control of the islands. Denmark was happy to sell the financially draining colonies. The mostly black islanders objected to sell due the treatment of blacks in the U.S. at the time. Full U.S. citizenship was granted to the islanders in 1932. The U.S. Virgin Islands are the only place in the U.S. where traffic drives on the left.