The Danish West India Company first established their presence in St. Thomas in 1672, in St. John in 1718, and finally acquired St. Croix from the Fresh West India Company in 1733. Their interest on the islands was economic-driven as the area has arable lands that are good for growing sugarcane. As this required intensive labor, the Danish settlers acquired slaves to toil in their fields and engage in backbreaking tasks such as clearing land, tending to livestock, and processing crops. Individuals from various regions of Africa, including present-day Senegal, Guinea, Angola, and Congo, were captured and forced to work in the islands.
The lives of the enslaved individuals in the Danish West Indies were marked by unspeakable hardship and cruelty. They were considered property, deprived of basic human rights, and treated as commodities by plantation owners. Forced labor, brutal physical punishment, and psychological trauma were daily realities for those held in bondage.
According to accounts, plantation laborers were required to work about 12 hours, six days a week so plantation owners could exploit their strength as much as possible (Olwig, 1988). Physical violence was common in the form of whipping, beating, and branding to control and punish the laborers for their disobedience or resistance. Epidemics and outbreaks are far too common, leading to a high mortality rate in the enslaved population. Other deplorable living conditions experienced by the enslaves are the overcrowding in slave quarters, insufficiency of food rations, lack of clean water, and limited access to proper medical care and treatment.
Some enslaved individuals were given access to provision grounds, where they were allowed to cultivate their own crops (National Parks Service, 2022). Having these small plots of land did not just allow them to provide sustenance for themselves, but it also offered them a sense of autonomy. The communal efforts of the enslaved individuals on provision grounds also fostered a sense of solidarity and cooperation among them.
Despite the oppressive conditions, enslaved individuals in the Danish West Indies demonstrated remarkable resilience and resistance. The inhumane treatment they experienced led to a number of acts of rebellion, including escapes, sabotage, and organized revolts.
One notable rebellion was led by John (Moses) Gottlieb, aka General Boddhoe, and Admiral Martin King, together with 9,000 enslaved Africans in Frederiksted, St. Croix on July 3, 1848. This led to the abolition of slavery by then Danish Governor Peter von Scholten and all unfree were finally granted their freedom (Mirzaliyeva, 2022).
On March 31, 1917 the United States purchased the islands from Denmark for $25 million in gold coin, officially renaming them the Virgin Islands of the United States (U.S. Department of State, n.d.).
Image Source: National Museum of Denmark (Link)