On This Day, January 17, in 1917

The United States bought what is now the US Virgin Islands from Denmark for 25 million dollars. Before being colonized by Denmark, the Virgin Islands were home to the Ciboney, Carib, and Arawak people, almost all of who perished under the harsh and devastating effects of colonization. After the indigenous population died off, the islands became a destination for thousands of African people who were enslaved on sugar plantations, many of whom continued to reside there long after slavery was legally abolished. The US Virgin Islands are now known for their lucrative tourist industry, on which American industries continue to profit and feed off of.