Virgin Islands Humanities Council
We The People
Self-Governance Chronology

The people of the Virgin Islands continue the struggle for self-governance as we prepare the Fifth Constitutional Convention. It is imperative that the Virgin Islands community receives guidance in the way of education and information in order to further the self-determination cause. The VIHC seeks to deepen public awareness and understanding about the issues shaping our political future. This is a chronology of events pertinent to our struggle for self-governance.

1733-34—the St. John Revolt was the first armed and organized uprising, led by Bombas Claes, Kanta, Breffu and others. The revolt started on November 23, 1733 and ended in May of 1734 when a French detachment from Martinique successfully put down the insurrection. Eleven leaders of the revolt killed themselves, possibly on Amina Hill at Ram’s Head, rather than being captured.

1848—This insurgency, led by Moses “General Buddhoe” Gottlieb, on July 2nd was successful in forcing Governor General Peter VonScholten to abolish slavery in the Danish West Indies, by signing the Declaration of Emancipation.

1878—Four women on St. Croix, known as Queens, organized a revolt to demand comparable wages to that of St. Croix Central Factory workers. When their demands were not met, they burned down towns and sugar cane plantations. By the end of the “fireburn,” many were killed, 50 plantations and the majority of Frederiksted were burnt down. The four queens were: Queen Mary Thomas, Queen Mathilde Macbean, Susanna “Bottom Belly” Abrahamson and Axeline “Queen Agnes” Salomon.

1892—On September 1st, Queen Coziah and other coal carriers on St. Thomas rioted in response to a flood of Mexican silver that depreciated the Danish silver normally exchanged for coal and dockworkers brass tokens. Additionally, many Danish merchants issued tokens without having the gold or silver markers to secure them. This non-violent strike ended when a deluge of rain dispersed the mob. In reflection, as with 1848 revolt of bloodshed and fire, the government gave in to their demands. The Danish government ruled in favor of a stable currency and increased wages for the coal carriers.

1915—Mr. David Hamilton Jackson and Mr. Ralf Bough established the first labor party called the St. Croix Labor Union. Additionally, D. Hamilton Jackson traveled to Denmark and successfully gained permission to establish the first Virgin Islands newspaper, The Herald.

1917—March 31, 1917 the Treaty of Acquisition was signed by the Denmark and the United States of America. The United States paid $25 million for the territory, and the signing of the proclamation transferred the Danish West Indies to the United States Virgin Islands.

1927—Virgin Islanders gained American citizenship through the V.I. Congressional Council led by Casper A. Holstein.

1931—the Executive Order Conferring Civilian Rule was signed by President Herbert Hoover dissolving the temporary government established after the purchase of the United States Virgin Islands and legislation for permanent civilian government.

1936—The first Organic Act of the Virgin Islands was grounded in the colonial laws of 1906 and drafted with major contributions from Rothschild Francis. The 1936 document did not require any property or income qualifications for voting.

1940’s—The Virgin Islands was governed by a local municipal council with seven representatives from St. Thomas/St. John and St. Croix districts. This gave greater autonomy to the territory.

1950—Morris F. DeCastro became the first native presidential appointed V.I. Governor.

1954 – The Revised Organic Act created the unicameral Legislature of 11 members and returned internal revenue taxes on products sold on the mainland to the Virgin Islands.

1961 – President John F. Kennedy appointed Governor Ralph M. Paiewonsky. He is credited with creating a Virgin Islands middle-class after luring businesses such as Hess and Harvey Alumina to the territory as well as establishing the College of the Virgin Islands.

1964 / 1971 /1978 / 1980—Four constitutional conventions took place in order to create a document that would replace the Revised Organic Act of 1954. None of these constitutional Conventions were successful.

1968—The Elective Governor Act of 1968 allowed for the governor of the Virgin Islands to be elected. This legislation was incorporated into the Revised Organic Act of 1954.

1969—Dr. Melvin H. Evans became the last presidentially appointed and first elected governor of the Virgin Islands.

1972 – The Congressional Delegate Act of 1972 gave the territory the opportunity to elect a nonvoting delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives.

1976—The first Congressional Delegate Ronald De Lugo introduced the Constitutional Authorization Act to Congress. With its passing the territory was authorized to create and adopt its own constitution. The federal government did not authorize the constitutional conventions of 1964 and 1971.

1989-1993 – The U.S.V.I Commission on Status and Federal Relations was created to present various status options from which Virgin Islands voters could choose to adopt a new political status. According to the United Nations Charter Chapter XI, Article 73 – the Declaration Regarding Non-Self-Governing Territories, the United States must provide the Virgin Islands with opportunities and support to develop self-government.

2004 – The Governor signed the Omnibus Law which has provisions for a constitutional convention which favors the adoption of the Revised Organic Act of 1954 as the new constitution of the Virgin Islands. The new constitution would then be amended reflect the needs of the people.

2005 – February 17th the Committee for St. Croix Self-Governance goes to Washington, D.C. to meet with Delegate Donna Christian – Christensen.

2006 – The 26th legislature vote in favor of a postponement of the Fifth Constitutional Convention to convene in July of 2007 to July of 2008.