The Virgin Islands of US popularly known every bit US Virgin Islands (U.S. Virgin Islands, American Virgin Islands or USVI) is a US Overseas Territory inward the Caribbean Area which is inhabited past times mostly descendants of Africans, who were enslaved in addition to brought to the Caribbean Area past times Europeans to project on saccharide plantations. US Virgin Islands was formerly known every bit Danish West Indies until 1916.
The Islands which is renown for its white sand beaches, crystal-blue waters in addition to idyllic sailing venues forms portion of the Virgin Islands archipelago in addition to are located inward the Leeward Islands of the Lesser Antilles. It is situated exactly inward the Atlantic Ocean, virtually 40 miles (64 km) eastward of Puerto Rico in addition to right away due west of the British Virgin Islands. They portion the Virgin Islands Archipelago with the Castilian Virgin Islands (administered past times Puerto Rico) in addition to the British Virgin Islands.
The territory consists of 4 principal islands: Saint Thomas, Saint John, Saint Croix, in addition to historically distinct Water Island, every bit good every bit several dozen smaller islands. The principal islands have got nicknames often used past times locals: "Twin City" (St. Croix), "Rock City" (St. Thomas) in addition to "Love City" (St. John). The total solid reason expanse of the territory is 133.73 foursquare miles (346.4 km2). The territory's uppercase is Charlotte Amalie on the isle of Saint Thomas.
US Virgin Islands kids of the St Thomas majorette junior performing traditional dance: credit W, Bostwick
US Virgin Islands which currently has overwhelming population of dark Africans of mostly West African ancestry was originally inhabited by the Ciboney (Cave-dwellers Greater Antilles inward the Caribbean Area Sea), Tainos (Arawaks), in addition to latter Kalinago (Caribs). Christopher Columbus, Italian explorer, navigator, in addition to colonizer sited the Islands on his minute New World voyage inward 1493 in addition to named the Island "Las Once Mil Virgenes," inward laurels of Saint Ursula in addition to her virgin followers. Up to in addition to including the 17th century, these islands were captured in addition to controlled past times many European powers, including France, Denmark, the Netherlands, Espana in addition to the United Kingdom.
Political Life
Government. Congress established the authorities through the Revised Organic Act of 1954. The Office of Insular Affairs of the U.S. Department of the Interior administers the islands. The governor in addition to lieutenant governor are elected past times pop vote for four-year terms. There is a fifteen-seat Senate whose members are elected for two-year terms. The islands elect 1 representative to the U.S. House of Representatives who may vote inward committees in addition to subcommittees. Virgin Islands citizens make non vote inward United States' presidential elections. The judicial branch is composed of the U.S. District Court, with judges appointed past times the President, in addition to the Territorial Court, with judges appointed past times the governor.
Leadership in addition to Political Officials. The electrical current governor in addition to the electrical current representative to the U.S. House are both Democrats. In the Senate, the Democratic Party holds 6 seats in addition to the Republican Party in addition to the Independent Citizens Movement have got 2 seats each; the remaining v seats are held past times independents.
Social Problems in addition to Control. The high cost of living in addition to the depression pay scale for service sector jobs have got created widespread discontent. Saint Croix has seen drive-by shootings, but most criminal offense is property-related. To protect tourism, the authorities has increased the constabulary enforcement budget. Local officials piece of work with the Drug Enforcement Agency, Customs, in addition to the Coast Guard to combat the illegal drug trade.
Social Welfare in addition to Change Programs
The Department of Human Services attempts to provide for the needs of low-income persons, the elderly, children in addition to families, in addition to the disabled.
US Virgin isle lady
Nongovernmental Organizations in addition to Other Associations
The Saint Croix Foundation is active inward community evolution in addition to has established anticrime initiatives. Environmental associations on the 3 principal islands promote ecological awareness, sponsor guided outings, in addition to encourage responsible legislation.
Gender Roles in addition to Statuses
Division of Labor past times Gender. Women are increasing their participation inward the economical in addition to political areas. The U.S. Small Business Administration established the Virgin Islands Women's Business Center inward 1999 to encourage in addition to educate women concern owners. The heroine of the 1878 project rebellion inward Saint Croix was "Queen Mary," a canefield worker. The electrical current Senate president in addition to the presiding jurist of the Territorial Court are women.
St Croix human being from USVI
Marriage, Family, in addition to Kinship
Marriage. One inward 3 families is headed past times a single woman somebody parent. The charge per unit of measurement of single teenage pregnancy is increasing in addition to is a major social concern. Wedding customs gain from the traditional African "jump the broom" to European-influenced church building ceremonies.
Domestic Unit. According to 1995 census data, married couples comprise 57 percent of households in addition to single females with children, 34 percent. The average household has 2 children.
Inheritance. The concept of jointly owned "family land" accommodates the designing of alternately settling downwards in addition to moving that has characterized the lives of many families since colonial times.
Socialization
Infant Care. Women are responsible for baby care. Breast-feeding is supplemented past times formula given inward bottles; the utilisation of formula results inward early on weaning. In to a greater extent than traditional households, folk beliefs virtually baby care, including the utilisation of "bush tea" to have sleep, are common.
Child Rearing in addition to Education. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 "bogeyman" is used every bit a threat to right children's bad behavior. Education is compulsory in addition to free. Multicultural instruction is seen every bit a necessity, but in that location is growing concern virtually Earth schools, in addition to those who tin afford private schools to a greater extent than often than non select that alternative. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 higher per centum of females than males goal high school.
Higher Education. The University of the Virgin Islands, founded inward 1962, has campuses on Saint Thomas in addition to Saint Croix. It offers bachelor's degrees inward a number of areas in addition to master's degrees inward concern direction in addition to world administration.
Religion
As inward most Caribbean Area countries, Christianity is the dominant religious belief inward the U.S. Virgin Islands. Protestantism is most prevalent, reflecting the territory's Danish colonial heritage. There is also a strong Roman Catholic presence.
The predominant religious affiliations are Baptist (42 percent), Catholic (34 percent), in addition to Episcopalian (17 percent). Remnants of African civilization are found inward the belief inward spirits.
As inward other Caribbean Area islands, Rastafari is also prevalent. There are some Jews living inward the territory, in addition to a important Muslim population, primarily of Palestinian descent.
Rituals in addition to Holy Places: Saint Thomas has the minute oldest synagogue inward the New World. Lord God of Sabaoth Lutheran Church in addition to the Friedensthal Moravian Church on Saint Croix are the oldest congregations of their form inward the United States. To commemorate their liberty inward 1848, old slaves built the All Saints Cathedral. The Arawak Indian carvings on Saint John may have got religious significance.
Cuisine
Fungi (pronounced fun-gee) is a principal staple of the traditional Virgin Islands diet. It consists of cornmeal that has been boiled in addition to cooked to a thick consistency along with okra. Fungi is commonly eaten with boiled fish or saltfish.
Food inward Daily Life. Cassava, pumpkins, in addition to sweetness potatoes are native to the islands, in addition to a multifariousness of seafood is found inward the surrounding waters. Many recipes are based on African sources. Okra is an ingredient inward killaloo, a stew with local greens in addition to fish, in addition to inward fungi, a cornmeal-based side dish; conch appears inward fritters, chowders, in addition to mixed with rice. Guava, soursop, in addition to mango are eaten, along with mamey in addition to mesple.
Their principal snack is Pate (Pronounced PAH-TEH), fried dough filled with diverse meats including beef, chicken or saltfish stuffed within is a pop snack (similar to a Jamaican patty). Another pop snack is Johnnycake (originally known every bit 'journey cake'), a pastry also made with fried dough.
Food Customs at Ceremonial Occasions. Sugar cakes made with kokosnoot in addition to boiled sugar, are a traditional midafternoon snack. Maubi, a local drink, is made from the bark of a tree, herbs, in addition to yeast. Souse is a stew of pig's head, tail, in addition to feet, flavored with lime juice that is served on festive occasions.
“Bush tea”, a full general term for whatsoever herbal tea derived from native plants (including lemongrass), is the hot imbibe of selection inward the Virgin Islands. Popular mutual frigidness beverages include maubi, sorrel, soursop, body of body of water moss in addition to passion fruit. Drinks with ginger root are also popular.
Secular Celebrations
Legal holidays include 1 January, New Year's Day; 6 January, Three Kings Day; 15 January, Martin Luther King Day; President's Day on the 3rd Mon inward February; Memorial Day on the in conclusion Mon inward May; Independence Day, 4 July; Veterans Day, 11 November; in addition to Thanksgiving.
Legal holidays commemorating local events include Transfer Day (from Kingdom of Denmark to the US inward 1917); 31 March, Organic Act Day; Virgin Islands/Danish West Indies Emancipation Day, 3 July; in addition to D. Hamilton Jackson Day on 1 November. Carnival was officially reinstated inward 1952 in addition to is celebrated at dissimilar times. Carnival celebrations include parades, floats, stilt walking "Mocko Jumbies," steel pan competitions, beauty contests, in addition to nutrient fairs.
US Virgin isle carnival
Music of the Virgin Islands
The music of the Virgin Islands reflects long-standing West Indian cultural ties to the isle nations to the south, the islands' African heritage in addition to European colonial history, every bit good every bit recent North American influences. Though the US Virgin Islands in addition to British Virgin Islands are politically separate, they maintain unopen cultural ties. From its neighbors, the Virgin Islands has imported diverse pan-Caribbean genres of music, including calypso from Trinidad in addition to reggae from Jamaica.
The major indigenous cast of music is the scratch band (also called fungi band inward the British Virgin Islands), which utilisation improvised instruments similar gourds in addition to washboards to create a form of music called quelbe. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Virgin Island folk vocal called cariso is also popular, every bit good every bit St. Thomas' bamboula. The quadrille is the traditional folk trip the low-cal fantastic of the islands, in addition to include varieties similar St. Croix's Imperial Quadrille in addition to St. Thomas' Flat High German Quadrille. The Heritage Dancers are a respected trip the low-cal fantastic troupe that perform traditional folk dances from the Virgin Islands in addition to beyond.
Folk music: Virgin Islander folk music has declined since the mid-20th century, though some traditions, such every bit scratch bands, remain vibrant. Trends that contributed to this alter include the ascent of the tourism industry, the switch of American tourists from Republic of Cuba to the Virgin Islands next the 1959 revolution, in addition to the growth of industries based on volume radio, telly in addition to recorded music. These changes "(diluted) local traditions in addition to (diverted) younger generations" from becoming involved inward folk music, because pop styles came to live viewed every bit having to a greater extent than prestige, grade in addition to income.
Scratch bands in addition to fungi music: Scratch bands, also known every bit fungi bands in addition to formerly string bands, are a distinctive cast of folk ensemble; they have got survived the reject of other Virgin Islander folk traditions, through adapting to newly imported instrumentation in addition to songs, in addition to becoming a portion of a to a greater extent than full general revival of involvement inward folk civilization on the islands. The call scratch band may derive from the audio produced past times scraping the squash, an musical instrument similar to the Puerto Rican guiro, but larger, or from the give-and-take mash itself, used to refer to the bands firstly past times American visitors in addition to and so past times locals.
The traditional scratch band ensemble varied, but ever used a percussive instrument, either the squash, tambourine, or a local cast of double-headed barrel drum similar to the Dominican tambora, every bit good every bit an accordion, cane flute or violin every bit a melodic instrument. String instruments were also common, including the banjo, ukulele or a six-string guitar. The donkey pipe, made out of a automobile exhaust tube, often provided the bass, in addition to was played similar to the tuba. Since virtually the 1980s, the instrumentation for scratch bands became to a greater extent than rigid. The alto saxophone became the most mutual melodic instrument, replaced sometimes past times a silvery flute. Conga drums, squash, electrical guitar or bass guitar, in addition to a steel (a triangle). Banjo or ukulele, keyboard in addition to additional saxophones or other melodic instruments are to a greater extent than rarely found inward modern bands.
The music of scratch bands are a type of folk music that dates dorsum to the days of slavery. The slaves on the islands used found objects to fashion instruments, such every bit past times making strings out of twine salvaged from old sacks. Lyrics traditionally business office every bit oral history, spreading intelligence in addition to gossip. Modern scratch bands play a broad gain of dances, including calypsos, boleros, quadrilles, international pop songs, merengues, mazurkas, waltzes, jigs in addition to other styles. They perform at church building services, private parties, world festivals, local dances in addition to fairs, christenings in addition to weddings, in addition to also perform for tourists. The scratch band tradition remains most vibrant on St. Croix, where the bands Bully & the Kafooners, Stanley & the Ten Sleepless Knights, in addition to Blinky & the Roadmasters are good known. Scratch bands are less mutual on St. Thomas, in addition to inward the British Virgin Islands, though the pop Elmo & the Sparkplugs hail from Tortola.
Quelbe: Quelbe is a cast of topical folk song, in addition to is the official music of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Quelbe is commonly performed past times scratch bands, Stanley & the Ten Sleepless Nights existence the most pop throughout the Virgin Islands, though their folk rootage lies inward individuals, who sang the songs inward informal settings, celebrations in addition to festivals. These songs typically contained sexual innuendos in addition to double entendres, every bit good every bit other hidden meanings; mutual topics included political events, such every bit a boycott. One representative from the early on 20th century chastises a carousel possessor for opposing a wage increase:
I rather walk in addition to imbibe rum whole night
Before me go ride on LaBega Carousel
I rather walk, man, in addition to imbibe rum whole night
Before me go ride on LaBega Carousel
You no remove heed what LaBega say
"The people no worth to a greater extent than than 15 cent a day"
You no remove heed what LaBega say, man
"The people no worth to a greater extent than than one-half cent a day" (Soule, Mary Jane; Lieth-Phillip, Margot (1993). Zoop Zoop Zoop: Traditional Music in addition to Folklore of St. Croix, St. Thomas, in addition to St. John. Liner notes. New York: New World Records. cited inward Sheehy, pg. 971)
Other folk styles: The quadrille is a folk trip the low-cal fantastic that was formerly an of import portion of Virgin Islands culture; it is at nowadays rarely performed, except on St. Croix. There, locals trip the low-cal fantastic the quadrille at world performance venues, such every bit St. Gerard's Hall, or every bit educational glasses for schools, festivals in addition to holidays, or every bit amusement for tourists. Educational in addition to amusement quadrille troops both have on traditionally styled wearable reminiscent of authentic attire.
The Virgin Islands tea meetings, the David in addition to Goliath play in addition to masquerade jig all in all likelihood derive from elsewhere inward the Caribbean. The masquerade jig uses elements of theater, dance, music in addition to oratory, in addition to functions every bit uncomplicated amusement with improvised jigs alternated with humorous monologues. Tea meetings are at nowadays only performed every bit reconstructions inward folkloric ensembles; they were evenings of speech-making, feasting in addition to the singing of hymns in addition to parlor songs. The David in addition to Goliath play features music, dance, theater, in addition to dramatic in addition to witty speeches, all based about the biblical plot of David in addition to Goliath.
The Afro-Virgin Islander bamboula tradition is at nowadays only performed inward a reconstructed fashion. It was a vogue of song, drumming in addition to folk dance, performed past times 2 drummers on 1 drum; 1 drum used his hands in addition to heel, in addition to the other 2 sticks. African-styled trip the low-cal fantastic in addition to grouping vocal with refrains were a constant part, with verses oftentimes improvised past times a soloist.
Traditional Virgin Islander folk music festivals were performed until the belatedly 1950s. Masquerading (mas'ing) was an of import tradition, in addition to consisted of groups wearing costumes based about a theme, in addition to playing melodies in addition to rhythms that advise their identity. Instruments included a fife-and-drum ensemble that featured a cane fife, double-headed bass drum (known every bit keg or boom-boom) in addition to snare drum (known every bit kettledrum).
Caribbean Quadrille Genera
The Virgin Islander cariso tradition is extinct inward a truthful folk context, but remains an of import symbol of Crucian culture, in addition to is performed past times folkloric ensembles for educational in addition to opor-garai events. Carisos were silent performed every bit belatedly every bit the 1990s past times several elderly singers, most famously Ethel McIntosh in addition to Leona Watson. Though similar inward some ways to quelbe, cariso is to a greater extent than African inward its melodic style, frequent sustained syllables in addition to traditional performance context, namely women singing inward groups inward call-and-response. Carisos, similar quelbe, commemorate historical events, in addition to spread intelligence in addition to opinions virtually of import issues. One especially famous cariso dates to 1848, in addition to documents the emancipation of the slaves; the firstly segment is the refrain, sung past times a chorus, which is followed past times a poetry performed past times a soloist singer:
"Clear the road, all you lot clear the road, Clear the road, allow the slave them pass, We a go for a-we freedom.
Hardship inward the morning, suffering at night. No 1 ever aid us, it is only Father Ryan. They convey nosotros ya from Africa, that nosotros bornin' land; Bring nosotros ya inward slavery, inward the solid reason of Santa Cruz."
By the 1980s, Virgin Islands was dwelling to many imported styles, especially salsa, reggae, soca, merengue in addition to rock. Jazz, Western classical music in addition to musical theater, along with international pop stars, were mutual mainstream interests, piece the islands' youth formed bands in addition to trip the low-cal fantastic troupes that played styles pop across the Caribbean, mainly Latin, Jamaican in addition to Trinidadian influenced, such every bit salsa, reggae, steelpan in addition to soca. The large Puerto Rican population inward the Virgin Islands kept pop music from Puerto Rico in addition to the Dominican Republic a major portion of the islands' industry.
Calypso: The firstly calypso star from the Virgin Islands was Lloyd "Prince" Thomas, who moved to New York City inward the mid-1940s in addition to continued performing for some 20 years. Charles Harris, the Mighty Zebra (a well-known Trinidadian calypsonian) influentially performed inward the Virgin Islands inward the 1950s; he came for the Carnival inward 1952, in addition to stayed, playing at the Virgin Isles Hotel with the LaMotta Brothers Band. The LaMotta Band, led past times Bill LaMotta, was a real pop grouping that recorded several albums in addition to backed Mighty Zebra on a 1957 album for RCA Records. The remaining major early on calypso band from the Virgin Islands was the Fabulous McClevertys, who toured widely across the East Coast of the US at the meridian of the calypso craze inward the belatedly 1950s.
Another pop Virgin Islands calypsonian is Irvin "Brownie" Brown, who has hosted the islands' Carnival in addition to has been a leading singer, radio entertainer, MC in addition to drummer for many years. Originally from St. Thomas, he learned the timbales every bit a immature man, in addition to joined his uncle's hotel band inward 1949 or 1950. The band presently began performing inward Florida in addition to elsewhere, in addition to Brownie became known every bit a calypso vocaliser piece also learning bongos, congas in addition to a trap set. They recorded for Monogram in addition to and so Art Records, with Mighty Panther in addition to the Haitian vocaliser Calypso Mama. Brownie's homecoming to St. Thomas was followed past times joining upwards with Milo & the Kings, a well-known band, for whom he was a percussion for seventeen years, recording a number of albums in addition to touring across North America in addition to the Caribbean. He began working every bit a DJ for the WSTA radio station inward 1966, in addition to continued for to a greater extent than than 3 decades; he had a regular speak exhibit with calypso performances, The Original Side of Walter in addition to Brownie.
Salsa: In the 1950s through introduce solar daytime Milo in addition to the Kings (Emile Francis - music director) kept Latin music alive, especially on St. Thomas. Milo in addition to the Kings were famous for playing with such infamous bands every bit El Gran Combo (Rafael Ithier - music manager in addition to Salsa Maestro to Milo), Tito Puento, Joe Cuba, Mongo Santa Maria, to call a few. Present solar daytime Milo's Kings sometimes endeavour to laurels Milo with Salsa. In 1998 Puerto RIco became the birthplace of Reggaeton music, a mix of Reggae in addition to Latin music combined with Castilian Rap & Reggae. Prominent Reggaeton Artist from the Virgin Islands include Kamakazi, Nicky Jam, Nene Ganja, Panty Man.
Soca: The Virgin Islands has been dwelling to a number of well-known soca bands. Among the oldest in addition to most respected are: Milo & The Kings, Mandingo Brass, Imaginations Brass, & Eddie & the Movements (later renamed the "Awesome JamBand").
The "Jam Band" (formerly Eddie & the Movements) are 20 fourth dimension Road March Champions. The original "Jam Band" slowed upwards with the decease of the band's principal forepart human being "Nick 'Daddy' Friday" who died inward 2005. The Enforcements band hailed out of Monbijou, St. Croix (many members branched out to cast dissimilar bands).
The Imaginations Brass was the firstly grouping to contain the used of electronic drums & keyboard sequencers into their music. They started the tendency & other groups (such every bit Seventeen Plus & the JamBand) afterwards advanced the technique. It demonstrated the total utilisation of the drum machines, electronic keyboards, vocals, in addition to a bass line working together to laid a novel criterion for Caribbean Area Music.
Other pop bands included: Seventeen Plus (17+); VIO International; Xpress Band (St. Croix Festival's 2006-2007 Roadmarch Champions); Starlites; P'your Passion Band; Xtaushun Band (St. Croix Festival two-time Road March Champions)."; Fusion Band(St. Croix Festival four-time Road March Champions); DJATC (Daddy Jones And The Crew); the Jammerz HP (formerly known every bit JDPP Jammerz); De Fabulous Stroka Band; Hyvoltage Band; Code 9; Xpress Band; Jam Tyme; UMB Soldiers; Rupsion Band; Spectrum Band (St. Thomas Carnival four-time Road March Champions); Kylo & Stylee Band; in addition to Pumpa & The Unit have got also made names for themselves.
Reggae: A reggae scene has been flourishing inward the Virgin Islands, especially the isle of St. Croix. The Virgin Islands reggae scene has achieved much popularity throughout the Lesser Antilles, Puerto Rico, the United States, South America in addition to Europe. Prominent reggae artists from the Virgin Islands include Pressure, Midnite, Dezarie, Army, Abja, De Apostle, Niyorah, Emanuel, Bambu Station, Inner Visions, Sabbattical Ahdah, Eno, Revalation, Iba Wicked, Jah Rubal, Jah Croix in addition to many more. The reggae music of St. Croix has a distinct "roots" feeling in addition to is strongly rooted inward Rastafari. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 prominent known reggae label inward St. Croix is I Grade Records, who have got released countless Midnite releases, 2 Dezarie albums, Niyorah albums, Army albums in addition to Abja albums. Bambu Station guitarist Tuff Lion, along with Laurent Alfred of I Grade Records make many of the tracks.
St. Croix also boasts a reggae radio station, WSTX 100.3 FM, which features Virgin Islands reggae.
Band Music: European-based state of war machine band music firstly came to the Virgin Islands through ship-based bands every bit good every bit the little state of war machine ensembles of the Danish troops based inward the islands. Regular band concerts were given past times Danish musicians inward Charlotte Amalie at to the lowest degree every bit early on every bit 1888 at the Emancipation Garden bandstand. The Native Brass Band, reportedly the firstly official band of local musicians, was formed nether the management of Lionel Roberts inward 1907, piece the Adams Juvenile Band appeared inward 1910 in addition to would live inducted into the U.S. Navy when the service took over the direction of the islands from Kingdom of Denmark inward 1917. The induction of this all-black unit of measurement into the U.S. Navy was remarkable for its fourth dimension in addition to hence recognized the firstly dark musicians inward the U.S. Navy since the War of 1812. The US Navy Band of the Virgin Islands gave regular world concerts on St. Thomas until the divergence of the naval direction inward 1931, in addition to non long after its founding 2 additional navy band units were stationed on St. Croix. Alton Augustus Adams, Sr., the founder of the Juvenile Band in addition to the bandmaster of the Navy ensemble, also wrote the Virgin Islands March (1919), at nowadays the official territorial anthem of the Virgin Islands, every bit good every bit The Governor's Own, the official march of the Virgin Islands Governor. With the exception of a single surviving bamboula arrangement, Adams's marches are alone inward the criterion American march vogue of his idol, John Philip Sousa.
Hip-Hop: There has been the evolution of a hip-hop scene inward the Virgin Islands, especially on the isle of St. Thomas. There is also a burgeoning hip-hop scene with Virgin Islands artists inward the Atlanta metropolitan area. Prominent Virgin Islands hip-hop artists include DJ Many from St.Croix Iyaz from Tortola, Rock City, Verse Simmonds from St. Thomas, K'Are from Tortola, Virgin Islands, British of the CB 4 Lyfe army camp who also does Solo but is silent a fellow member of CB in addition to the VI centered hip hop grouping Dem Rude Boyz.
Sports
Americanization inward the U.S. Virgin Islands has led to the preponderance of American sports such every bit baseball, American football game in addition to basketball, piece sports to a greater extent than pop inward the English-speaking Caribbean, such every bit cricket in addition to football, are also played.
Americanization inward sports tin live seen inward the British Virgin Islands, every bit well. For example, basketball game is much to a greater extent than widely played than cricket, 1 of the most pop sports inward the Anglophone Caribbean.
Although dependent territories, the U.S. in addition to British Virgin Islands both have got their ain independent national sports teams in addition to compete inward regional in addition to international athletic events. In cricket, both territories are represented past times the West Indies Cricket Team.
SOURCE:http://webpac.uvi.edu/imls/pi_uvi/european_african_influences_culture.pdf
http://www.everyculture.com/To-Z/United-States-Virgin-Islands.html
St. John Slave Rebellion past times Akan Akwamu people of Gold Coast (Ghana)
Excerpted from St. John Off The Beaten Track
The Slave Trade
The Danish colonization of St. John was undertaken inward 1718 for the purpose of establishing plantations where tropical products such every bit sugar, cotton, indigo in addition to other crops could live cultivated. The most profitable of these crops was sugar.
Sugar production inward the West Indies was an extremely lucrative affair. The abrupt introduction of saccharide to Europe created a nifty demand for this exotic novel product. With this high demand in addition to preciously little supply, the cost of saccharide was high, in addition to the turn a profit potential was enormous. Many of those involved inward this novel manufacture were able to accumulate nifty wealth in addition to power. It has been said that the only introduce solar daytime concern comparable to the saccharide merchandise of the colonial days is drug trafficking.
European colonial powers battled fiercely over command of the novel colonies. Pirates in addition to privateers infested the seas inward an orgy of murder in addition to plunder. Worst of all was the evolution of slavery every bit an establishment inward the Americas. Slave project was employed for the exploitation, settlement, in addition to evolution of the novel territories.
When the Castilian firstly invaded in addition to colonized the New World, they attempted to utilisation the indigenous population every bit a slave project force. Disease brought past times the Europeans, warfare, vicious treatment, in addition to overwork all but wiped out this race within a curt time.
When the Danes occupied St. Thomas inward 1672 in that location were no indigenous inhabitants living there, nor were in that location whatsoever on St. John inward 1718. Therefore, the possibility of obtaining slave project from this source was non available to the Danes.
The Danish authorities in addition to the government-supported in addition to subsidized Danish West Bharat Company tried to encourage immature Danes to emigrate to St. Thomas to project on the plantations. Very few responded. Prisoners were in addition to so brought over to piece of work every bit indentured servants with the stipulation that they would have their liberty after 6 years, though few would last that long. Apart from this, indentured servitude was exactly the same every bit slavery. They lived, ate in addition to worked with the slaves in addition to were bailiwick to the same arbitrary punishments. Their social spot was of the lowest monastic tell in addition to they were looked downwards upon past times both Africans in addition to Europeans. The prisoners viewed emigration to the colonies every bit a decease sentence. Their desperation in addition to discontent resulted inward mutinies in addition to resistance. In response, the Danes began to identify to a greater extent than emphasis on the importation of slave project from Africa.
The firstly African slaves were brought to Hispaniola inward 1502, in addition to slavery was non completely abolished until the early on twentieth century. During this roughly 4 hundred twelvemonth span, it has been estimated that every bit many every bit 12 1000000 Africans were unwillingly transported to the Americas.
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 cast of slavery existed within Africa prior to the advent of European colonialism. Tribalism has been a major influence inward African political history, in addition to warfare betwixt competition tribes was a mutual occurrence. Many of the Africans who were sold into slavery were prisoners captured inward these tribal wars.
The establishment of slavery that developed inward the colonization of the Americas was, firstly in addition to foremost, a business. It was characterized past times the turn a profit motive, greed, in addition to lacked morality, pity in addition to human decency. The Europeans' demand for inexpensive project created the demand. The existence of slaves acquired through the persistent warring of African nations provided the supply. Thus, a marketplace in addition to merchandise for human beings was established.
The captives were brought to the European forts or slave factories. The factors, or buyers, at the fort would purchase the slaves using a barter system. The slaves were in addition to so chained in addition to stored inward warehouses called barrcoons until the slave ships arrived.
The Danes maintained such a fort at Accra on the Republic of Guinea Coast called Christianborg. The Danish West Bharat in addition to Republic of Guinea Company sent companionship ships bearing items such every bit rum, firearms, gunpowder, wearable in addition to other goods, which were bartered for ivory, gilt in addition to slaves to the tribal leaders controlling the trade.
The voyage to the New World was known every bit the Middle Passage. Captives were confined into such little areas that it was impossible to stand upwards or fifty-fifty sit. Inside the ship's holds, it was dark, dank in addition to stuffy. There was no proper ventilation or sanitary facilities. The ship's officers in addition to crew were made upwards of the prisoners, misfits in addition to outcasts of Europe. Women were subjected to rapes in addition to indignities. Disease, desperation in addition to suicide claimed many lives earlier the ships fifty-fifty reached their concluding destinations inward America or the West Indies.
Upon arrival the slaves were sold at world auction in addition to and so marched to the plantations for a menstruation of "seasoning". One 3rd of these novel arrivals from Africa, called bussals, died during the seasoning period.
Early Danish settlement
The Danish West Bharat in addition to Republic of Guinea Company was chartered inward 1671 in addition to given the right to principle in addition to exploit Denmark's firstly colony inward the New World - St. Thomas. The companionship was granted a majestic charter to St. John from the King of Kingdom of Denmark inward 1717 in addition to St. John was nether companionship dominion until King Frederick of Kingdom of Denmark terminated this understanding inward 1755.
Twenty v settlers (eleven Dutch, nine Danes in addition to v Frenchmen), xvi enslaved Africans, in addition to v Danish soldiers, nether the command of Axel Dahl, sailed to St. John inward the companionship of the governor of St. Thomas, Erik Bredal. They landed inward Coral Bay on the eastward goal of the island.
Seventeenth century Kingdom of Denmark had marginal resources in addition to a relatively little population of roughly 1 one-half 1000000 people. Moreover, the Danes were reluctant to emigrate to the novel colonies in addition to Kingdom of Denmark lacked a sufficient population to effectively occupy their novel territories. To compensate for this, foreigners were invited into the population of the colonies.
The largest in addition to most influential of these foreigners to settle inward St. Thomas, in addition to afterwards to settle on St. John, were Dutch. By 1721, of the 39 planters on St. John in that location were 25 Dutchmen in addition to only nine Danes. The Dutch, to a greater extent than than whatsoever other national group, influenced the civilization of the Danish colonies, which prior to the acquisition of St. Croix inward 1733, consisted only of St. Thomas in addition to St. John. The most of import linguistic communication was Dutch in addition to Dutch Creole became the "lingua franca" of the Danish islands.
By 1733 to a greater extent than than 1,000 slaves labored on 109 plantations on St. John. Twenty-one of these plantations were inward the concern of planting in addition to processing sugar. The residuum grew cotton fiber in addition to other crops. By the goal of the century, however, the vast bulk of the plantations were dedicated to saccharide production, in addition to in that location were to a greater extent than than 2,500 slaves on the island. On average, 1 slave was used for the tillage of each acre of land.
African Background of the Rebellion
As early on every bit the kickoff of the seventeenth century, Accra on the Republic of Guinea Coast had go a centre of economical power. The Accra tribe acted every bit the middleman inward the central of slaves, gilt in addition to ivory from the interior for manufactured goods such every bit firearms, powder, lead, rum in addition to textile from the Europeans who operated out of fortifications on the coast.
The Danes entered the slave merchandise inward 1657 past times attacking the Swedes who were already established on the West Coast of Africa. By the kickoff of the eighteenth century, the Danish West Bharat in addition to Republic of Guinea Company had consolidated their slave functioning to the vicinity of Accra in addition to traded with the Accra tribe.
All move in addition to shipping from the interior to the coast occurred along narrow woods paths. The Accras used some other tribe, the Akwamu, whom the Danes called the Amina, to command the passage of merchants in addition to merchandise along these trails. This was done so that all goods from the interior would have got to go past times through an Accra-dominated expanse due north of the region's capital, Great Accra. Thus, direct access to the Europeans was denied to the traders from the interior, in addition to merchants were forced to have got the Accras every bit middlemen. For this unwanted service, the Accras demanded a per centum of the profits of this lucrative trade.
As fourth dimension went on, the Akwamu, who had been paying tribute to the Accras, became to a greater extent than powerful. They straight controlled the paths leading from the inland centers to the European commanded forts on the coast. Realizing their power, the Akwamu demanded a tribute inward gilt from the Accras inward monastic tell to permit traders to go past times through Akwamu territory. In the 1670s the Akwamus allied themselves with the Accras' neighboring tribes, the Agaves to the eastward in addition to the Agonas to the west. These alliances spot farther line per unit of measurement area on the Accras.
The Akwamus were fantabulous warriors. They developed an improved state of war machine strategy specific to the atmospheric condition imposed past times the heavily forested environment. They also emphasized the utilisation of missile weaponry, such every bit bows in addition to arrows in addition to flintlock rifles, which they obtained from the Europeans.
In 1677 the Akwamus attacked in addition to conquered the Accras. Through a serial of violent in addition to bloody state of war machine campaigns, the Akwamus became the dominant tribe inward the district of Accra, along the lower Gold Coast in addition to the Upper Slave Coast.
Thousands were killed, in addition to many prisoners were taken. The Accras, old allies in addition to trading partners of the Danes, fled to the fort at Christianborg seeking protection. The commanders of the fort chose to remain neutral in addition to did zero to halt the slaughter in addition to capture of the Accras.
The Akwamus were heavy-handed inward dealing with the tribes they had conquered. They forcibly conscripted troops from the conquered tribes, demanded tributes in addition to payments, levied excessive taxes, in addition to resorted to the instigation of disputes in addition to other forms of trickery in addition to unfair tactics to justify the enslavement of peoples from the conquered tribes.
For example, I. Akwamu Wilks inward The Rise of the Akwamu Empire, 1650-1710, wrote:
In every town (the Akwamu) took some wives, 3 or 4 according to the size of the town, in addition to left them in that location to stay. Then every twelvemonth they would move from identify to place, in addition to create these wives consume fetish (That is, swear to tell the truth on hurting of decease from divine power) so that they would confess what men had had contact with them. These disclosures were made willingly, since the women would acquire portion of the fines, in addition to the gallants powerfulness live sold every bit slaves unless their friends ransomed them.
The Akwamu abuse of ability eventually led to resistance in addition to rebellion from the tyrannized peoples. When the Akwamu manly somebody monarch died inward 1725, a conflict arose over who would accept power. This weakened the Akwamus, in addition to the conquered peoples of the expanse attacked the Akwamu nation. By 1730 the Akwamu were defeated, their uppercase urban pith destroyed, in addition to their reigning manly somebody monarch beheaded.
Once over again the oppressed became the oppressors in addition to thousands of Akwamu men in addition to women were sold into slavery. Many of these Akwamus were sold to the Danes at the fort inward Christianborg inward the early on portion of the 1730s. They were in addition to so placed on ships boundary for the slave marketplace inward St. Thomas. Many were sold to plantations on St. John.
From the company's records:
Haabet Galley, Danish registry, Captain A.H. Hammer, came to St. Thomas, Feb 1731, to sell 21 men 29 women, 5 boys, total of 55 out of Guinea; Cost to companionship wholesale seventy rigsdalers, cost to planter 120 rigsdalers.
From the company's records:
Laarburg Galley, Danish registry, Captain Lorenzo Jaeger (replaced past times Captain Hammer) May 1733. It carried 443 captives out of Republic of Guinea of whom 242 survived (124 men, 64 women, 26, boys, 28 girls); 199 died of dysentery in addition to 2 were sold to the Portuguese. The ship made an overall turn a profit of 69.5% from the survivors; cost to company; seventy rigsdalers, cost to planters; 120-150 rigsdalers. (From MAPes MONDe Collection)
In 1733 at the fourth dimension of the slave rebellion in that location were hundreds of Akwamu men in addition to women with the slave population of St. John. Of the roughly 150 Africans who were involved inward the rebellion, all were Akwamus. Africans of other ethnic backgrounds, some of whom had been sold into slavery past times the Akwamus, did non back upwards the rebellion. Some fifty-fifty joined the Europeans against the Akwamus.
The Akwamus on St. John did non reckon themselves every bit slaves, but rather every bit slave owners. Many were nobles, wealthy merchants or powerful warriors who were accustomed to large commands.
Information on the African background came from Sandra F. Greene's query appearing inward The Danish West Indian Slave Trade, past times George F. Tyson in addition to Arnold R. Highfield.
Causes of the rebellion
Weakness of the Central Government in addition to the Military
As previously mentioned, Denmark, a comparatively weak nation, began their colonization of the New World afterwards than the other European colonial powers. St. Thomas in addition to St. John were rocky, mountainous, in addition to lacked a important amount of rainfall. The Danes were able to colonize in addition to settle these islands mainly because none of the other Europeans showed much involvement inward acquiring this territory.
Without a sufficient number of their ain citizens to inhabit their novel colonies, Kingdom of Denmark invited peoples of other nations to settle them. Thus, foreigners exerted a strong influence on authorities decisions.
The plantations were only marginally profitable, in addition to the Danish West Bharat Company lacked the motivation in addition to the resources to provide a strong regular army for the defense forcefulness of the islands. They relied instead on a citizen's militia. On St. John this province of affairs bordered on the absurd. Aside from the ineffective civil guard, the number of soldiers stationed on St. John at the fourth dimension of the slave rebellion numbered six. Moreover, morale was depression in addition to the incidence of disease, alcoholism in addition to mortality were high.
Absentee Ownership of Plantations
Many of St. John's plantations were owned past times men in addition to women from St. Thomas who also had estates on that island. The St. Thomians commonly hired overseers called Mesterknegte to care their holdings on St. John. These overseers were non ever honest in addition to often failed to deed inward the best interests of the planters. (Out of sight, out of mind.) The overseers surely did non give the interests of the slaves much attention.
Low Ratio of European to Africans on St. John
Partly because many of the plantation owners in addition to their families lived inward St. Thomas, in addition to partly due to the nature of the plantation scheme itself, the ratio of European planters to African slaves on St. John became extremely low. The lack of a town or whatsoever choice industries also contributed to this depression ratio.
Drought, Starvation in addition to Marooning
On St. John slaves were required to provide the project necessary to grow the nutrient they ate. They did this on their ain plots of land, which were cultivated inward their spare time. Because in that location was no supervision past times the owners or overseers, slaves could utilisation the fourth dimension spent tending these grounds to speak freely with themselves in addition to to create plans.
In 1725 in addition to 1726 in addition to over again inward 1733, St. John experienced prolonged droughts, in addition to the provision grounds could non yield sufficient food; the slaves faced starvation.
In 1733 much of the solid reason on St. John was non yet cleared in addition to in that location were silent large areas of thick bush in addition to forest. The opportunities provided past times this environment, combined with the skills the slaves developed from tending their provision grounds, made it possible for them to run away from the plantation. They were able to disappear into the bush in addition to provide for themselves past times tending little gardens, gathering in addition to fishing. The tearing in addition to warlike Akwamu (or Aminas every bit they were called past times the Danes) also demanded the back upwards of slaves silent on the plantations.
By 1733 starvation, overwork, in addition to harsh handling had caused a important number of slaves from the Amina tribe to maroon.
Slave Code of 1733
The drought of 1733 ended with a severe hurricane inward July. This was followed past times a plague of insects. Both plantation crops in addition to provision grounds were devastated. Governor Philip Gardelin's Code of 1733 was written primarily every bit a reply to the occupation of marooning. Almost one-half of the xix provisions included inward the code provided punishments for diverse forms in addition to aspects of maroonage.
If slaves ran away to some other country, or fifty-fifty contemplated, conspired, or attempted to acquire out the country, the penalization was torture past times red-hot pincers at 3 split upwards world locations, followed past times execution.
Those running away or conspiring to run away from the plantation, but non involving escape from the Danish islands were to lose a leg. If their masters pardoned them, they were to have 150 strokes in addition to endure the loss of an ear.
Punishments of varying severity such every bit the cutting off of a leg, branding or whipping were prescribed for dissimilar degrees of maroonage, such every bit maroonage lasting over 6 months, maroonage over 2 weeks, in addition to failure to inform of plots to run away.
The outnumbered whites also felt it necessary to include inward the code, punishments for failure to exhibit proper honour in addition to deference. Menacing gestures or verbal insults to whites could live punishable past times hanging, preceded past times 3 applications of glowing pincers. At the discretion of the insulted or menaced victim, the slave's penalization could alternatively live the amputation of an arm. If a slave met a white somebody on the street, the slave would have got to pace aside.
It was prohibited for slaves to have on iron-tipped sticks or knives at their sides, although the carrying of machetes was allowed. The argue for this was that because the slaves were prohibited from owning weapons, they had developed the fine art of fighting with their walking sticks. This cast of fighting reached the sophistication of the advanced martial arts practiced inward other areas of the world. Machetes, on the other hand, were perceived every bit tools.
Theft of belongings past times slaves was punishable past times torture followed past times hanging. Petty theft in addition to possession of stolen belongings was punishable past times branding on the brow in addition to upwards to 150 strokes.
Being out past times curfew was punishable past times whipping. Dancing, feasts, or funeral rites involving the utilisation of "Negro instruments" every bit good every bit the practise of Obeah was prohibited in addition to would live punished past times whipping.
Conspiracy to poison, or the utilisation of poison, was punishable past times torture with hot pincers, existence broken on the bike in addition to and so burnt alive.
The preamble to the code expressed the philosophy that the slave was the belongings of the possessor in addition to had no rights.
The constabulary was written inward an elbow grease to command the slaves through intimidation in addition to terror and, thereby to forestall marooning. The passage of the law, however, produced the opposite effect. The slaves, faced with the impossible selection betwixt starvation on 1 mitt in addition to mutilation in addition to execution on the other, realized that their only means out was rebellion.
Rebellion
On Nov 23, 1733 slaves carrying bundles of wood were allow into the fort at Coral Bay. Concealed inward the wood were cane knives, which the rebels used to kill the half-asleep in addition to surprised soldiers who were guarding the fort. One soldier, John Gabriel, escaped past times hiding nether his bed in addition to running away when he had a chance. He was able to acquire to St. Thomas inward a little boat in addition to tell the story to Danish officials there. The rebels raised the flag in addition to fired 3 cannon shots. This was the signal for slaves on the plantations to kill their masters in addition to accept command of the island.
The rebels proceeded to kill many of the whites inward the Coral Bay area. The insurgents gained inward number every bit they progressed from plantation to plantation. Some whites were spared, notably the company's doctor, Cornelius Bödger, because of the proficient human relationship he had with the Africans inward treating their medical needs. Also spared were Dr. Bödger's 2 stepsons. They were saved from decease out of honour for the surgeon, in addition to also to live made into servants for the novel rebel leaders.
The stated aim of the rebels was to create St. John an Akwamu ruled state, governed nether the Akwamu system. Africans of other tribal origins were to serve every bit slaves inward the production of saccharide in addition to other crops.
Many of the little planters on the East End, who had few slaves or possessions, were able to escape to other islands inward their identify unit of measurement boats. Some of the whites from the western in addition to southern parts of the isle were warned past times loyal slaves, in addition to they were either able to escape to St. Thomas or to get together with the other surviving planters at Durloe's Plantation at Caneel Bay (then known every bit Klein Caneel Bay). The approach to the plantation was guarded inward portion past times 2 cannons. Captain Jannis von Beverhaut in addition to Lt. Charles assumed command. Women in addition to children were sent to Henley Cay with the intention that they live picked upwards afterwards in addition to brought to St. Thomas.
Meanwhile, the rebels attacked Cinnamon Bay (then called Caneel Bay). John in addition to Lieven Jansen in addition to a little grouping of their slaves resisted the onslaught. The rebel forcefulness was overwhelming. Jansen's loyal slaves fought a bring upwards guard activity in addition to held off the advancing rebels with gunfire, hence allowing the Jansens to retreat to their waiting boat in addition to escape to Durloe's Plantation. Miraculously, the loyal slaves were also able to escape.
The rebels paused to loot the Jansen plantation earlier pressing onward to human face upwards the white planters at Durloe's. The attackers became disorganized when faced with the initial cannon in addition to musket give notice of the defenders, in addition to the onrush on Durloe's plantation was repulsed.
Meanwhile inward St. Thomas, Governor Philip Gardelin, nether line per unit of measurement area from old Governor Moth, consented to send a little political party of soldiers to St. John to relieve the besieged planters. More troops nether the leadership of William Barrens, every bit good every bit a detachment consisting mainly of African slaves sent past times the Danish West Bharat Company in addition to past times St. Thomas planters, arrived on St. John presently afterwards. This well-armed in addition to well-supplied regular army was able to recapture the fort in addition to scatter the rebels who in addition to so took to hiding inward the bush to struggle a state of war of attrition.
To find the status quo, the planters needed to wipe out the in conclusion vestiges of resistance. The remaining rebels could go along to last past times looting abandoned plantations in addition to little farms in addition to past times living off the solid reason where cattle at nowadays ran wild all over the island. The rebels would live a constant harassment to the orderly evolution in addition to functioning of whatsoever restored plantations. Furthermore, the Company in addition to the St. Thomas planters feared that the St. John rebellion would inspire uprisings on St. Thomas in addition to wanted to discourage slaves on that isle from taking similar action.
The insurgents held their ground, fighting a guerrilla vogue state of war in addition to disappearing into the bush when confronted with direct onrush past times the numerically superior troops led past times the planters. This status quo continued for 10 weeks.
The British were also concerned that the rebellion powerfulness spread to Tortola, in addition to they decided to aid the Danes past times sending an English linguistic communication Man O' War from Tortola to St. John. The warship was commanded past times a Captain Tallard had a crew of threescore soldiers.
When the British ship landed on St. John, the rebels staged an ambush inward which 4 of Tallard's men were wounded. Tallard in addition to his men, demoralized past times this defeat, sailed dorsum to Tortola.
Meanwhile, the possessor of the plantation at Maho Bay, William Vessuup, had abandoned his plantation in addition to fled to Tortola after existence implicated inward a murder. Maroon slaves had taken upwards residence at his plantation in addition to had afterwards used it every bit a headquarters for their troops inward the rebellion.
In an endeavour to find favor with the Danes in addition to live exonerated from the criminal charges against him, Vessuup offered a programme to play tricks the rebels. He was to lure the leaders aboard his ship with the hope of supplying them with badly needed guns in addition to ammunition. He in addition to so planned to capture the rebel leaders in addition to plough them over to the Danes. This endeavour at treachery, however, proved to live unsuccessful.
In Feb of 1734 the St. John planters over again solicited assist from the English, in addition to shortly afterwards Captain John Maddox, a privateer, sailing from St. Christopher (St. Kitts) arrived on the ship Diamond with 50 volunteers. His motivation was personal gain. He arranged a contract with Danish officials that would have got allowed him to maintain all rebel slaves captured except for the 10 considered most dangerous. They were to live turned over to the Danes for punishment. For these 10 he demanded a payment of 20 pieces-of-eight each. On their firstly confrontation with the Africans, the forces of John Maddox suffered a loss of 3 killed (including 1 of his sons) in addition to v wounded. Like his predecessor Captain Tollard, Captain Maddox in addition to his men left St. John shortly after their defeat.
English linguistic communication Governor Mathews wrote:
On St. John the Danes at introduce hardly have got possession. Their negroes rose upon them virtually 6 months ago. At my firstly arrival I heard they had quelled their slaves, but it was non so, they have got inward a mode drove the Danes off, at to the lowest degree they dare non at nowadays endeavour whatsoever to a greater extent than to cut back these Negroes, who have got ever beaten them, in addition to inward a mode are masters of that Island. The governor of St. Thomas, was fifty-fifty pocket-size plenty to wishing I would send some of H. M. ships to cut back them...and I at nowadays larn a rash boyfriend from St. Christophers, inward opened upwards defiance of my positive orders to the contrary, having made a compact with the Danish governor, went with his 2 sons in addition to 3 or 4 in addition to 20 to a greater extent than on this errand, that the negroes have got killed 1 if non both his sons, in addition to 2 or 3 to a greater extent than of his company, in addition to beaten them off.
In early on Apr of 1734 a grouping of virtually 40 rebels attacked Durloe's Plantation. This assault, similar the previous one, was almost successful, but was finally repulsed past times the defenders. The insurgents managed, though, to laid give notice to the defenders furnish magazine.
Events inward far away Europe were to bargain a deathblow to the rebel cause. King Louis of French Republic wanted to create his father-in-law, Stanislas Leszcynski the King of Poland. This would hateful state of war with Poland, in addition to French Republic needed to know that Kingdom of Denmark would at to the lowest degree remain neutral. In add-on to this, French Republic was inward demand of coin after having suffered severe fiscal losses inward their Mississippi colony.
The Danes had been interested inward the isle of St. Croix for quite some time. Sensing an opportunity, the Danish West Bharat Company offered the French 750,000 livres for St. Croix in addition to sweetened the bargain with the hope of Danish neutrality.
As a gesture of solidarity with their novel friends, French Republic offered Kingdom of Denmark aid inward subduing the slave rebellion on St. John. Monsieur de Champigny, the Governor of the French West Indies, sent Commander Chevalier de Longueville from Martinique to St. John with a forcefulness of 2 hundred soldiers. This included a gratis colored corps whose specialty was the tracking down, capturing in addition to killing of runaway slaves, an activity they called maroon hunting.
The French detachment arrived on St. John on Apr 23, 1734 inward 2 vessels, 1 commanded past times Monsieur de Longueville in addition to the other commanded past times Monsieur Nadau. Danish Governor Gardelin dispatched a forcefulness of virtually thirty men nether the command of Lt. Froling to offering whatsoever assistance necessary to the French soldiers. Gardelin also sent attorney Fries who was to mete out justice to captured rebels.
The French troops proceeded to relentlessly pursue the remaining rebels. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 rebel encampment of twenty-six huts was found in addition to destroyed. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 immature severely wounded slave named Jan was captured in addition to led the soldiers to a indicate of solid reason (Ram Head Point) where 11 rebels had committed suicide. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 few weeks afterwards 8 slaves, 2 of whom were women, surrendered after their original promised them clemency.
From St. John Backtime, "The Raw Truth has Been Reported," Commander Longueville, from a document discovered in addition to inward the Colonies department of the French National Archives past times Aimery P. Caron in addition to Arnold R. Highfield:
On Dominicus the 16 (May 16, 1734), 6 Negroes in addition to 2 negroe women surrendered at the appeal of their original who spared their lives. He in addition to so informed me of the matter. I ordered him to convey them to me, since they were identified every bit rebels. I have got them spot into chains. Three of them were burned at the stake on 3 dissimilar plantations on St. John. I had previously informed the governor piece passing through St. Thomas that should I grab a few of the rebels, I would spot most of them to decease in addition to send him the residuum so that he could create an representative of them. The next solar daytime I informed him of their capture. He sent a jurist who passed judgement for the sake of formality; I sent him the 3 other rebels along with the 2 women in addition to requested that he non have got them executed until I live present. One was burned to decease slowly, some other was sawed inward one-half in addition to the 3rd was impaled. The 2 Negroe women had their hands in addition to heads cutting off after all v had been tortured with hot pincers inward the town.
One calendar week afterwards twenty-five rebels were found dead on an "outjutting indicate of solid reason inward an unsuspected place" identified afterwards every bit nigh Brown Bay. Commander Longueville in addition to his men left St. John a few days afterwards on May 26, 1744 in addition to sailed to St. Thomas.
Unbeknownst to Longueville at the fourth dimension of this departure, silent at large, but hiding inward the bush, was 1 of the leaders of the rebellion in addition to a little grouping of his followers. He was a old Akwamu noble who was named Prince past times his master. Through an intermediary, a bargain was arranged whereby Prince in addition to his supporters would live forgiven in addition to allowed to come upwards dorsum to work. Prince in addition to xiv others surrendered to a Sergeant Øttingen. Prince was summarily shot in addition to killed. His caput was cutting off every bit a trophy in addition to his followers were captured. Subsequently 4 of the followers died inward jail inward St. Thomas, 6 were tortured to decease in addition to 4 were sent to St. Croix to live worked to death.
Sergeant Øttingen was given a vantage in addition to was promoted to Lieutenant for his bravery. The soldiers nether him were also honored in addition to rewarded.
The Danish West Bharat Company reported that their losses inward this rebellion amounted to 7,905 Rigsbankdalers.
source:http://www.stjohnbeachguide.com/Slave%20Rebellion.htm
Saba Bay Parcels - US Virgin Islands, Caribbean
Photo source:http://stthomassource.com/galleryimage/john-baur/2010/04/30/carnival-2010-childrens-parade
http://simonsen.photoshelter.com/gallery/St-Thomas-Carnival/G00005BQidYAnTTA/
US Virgin Islands adult woman from St John island
The Islands which is renown for its white sand beaches, crystal-blue waters in addition to idyllic sailing venues forms portion of the Virgin Islands archipelago in addition to are located inward the Leeward Islands of the Lesser Antilles. It is situated exactly inward the Atlantic Ocean, virtually 40 miles (64 km) eastward of Puerto Rico in addition to right away due west of the British Virgin Islands. They portion the Virgin Islands Archipelago with the Castilian Virgin Islands (administered past times Puerto Rico) in addition to the British Virgin Islands.
The territory consists of 4 principal islands: Saint Thomas, Saint John, Saint Croix, in addition to historically distinct Water Island, every bit good every bit several dozen smaller islands. The principal islands have got nicknames often used past times locals: "Twin City" (St. Croix), "Rock City" (St. Thomas) in addition to "Love City" (St. John). The total solid reason expanse of the territory is 133.73 foursquare miles (346.4 km2). The territory's uppercase is Charlotte Amalie on the isle of Saint Thomas.
US Virgin Islands kids of the St Thomas majorette junior performing traditional dance: credit W, Bostwick
US Virgin Islands which currently has overwhelming population of dark Africans of mostly West African ancestry was originally inhabited by the Ciboney (Cave-dwellers Greater Antilles inward the Caribbean Area Sea), Tainos (Arawaks), in addition to latter Kalinago (Caribs). Christopher Columbus, Italian explorer, navigator, in addition to colonizer sited the Islands on his minute New World voyage inward 1493 in addition to named the Island "Las Once Mil Virgenes," inward laurels of Saint Ursula in addition to her virgin followers. Up to in addition to including the 17th century, these islands were captured in addition to controlled past times many European powers, including France, Denmark, the Netherlands, Espana in addition to the United Kingdom.
Political Life
Government. Congress established the authorities through the Revised Organic Act of 1954. The Office of Insular Affairs of the U.S. Department of the Interior administers the islands. The governor in addition to lieutenant governor are elected past times pop vote for four-year terms. There is a fifteen-seat Senate whose members are elected for two-year terms. The islands elect 1 representative to the U.S. House of Representatives who may vote inward committees in addition to subcommittees. Virgin Islands citizens make non vote inward United States' presidential elections. The judicial branch is composed of the U.S. District Court, with judges appointed past times the President, in addition to the Territorial Court, with judges appointed past times the governor.
Leadership in addition to Political Officials. The electrical current governor in addition to the electrical current representative to the U.S. House are both Democrats. In the Senate, the Democratic Party holds 6 seats in addition to the Republican Party in addition to the Independent Citizens Movement have got 2 seats each; the remaining v seats are held past times independents.
Social Problems in addition to Control. The high cost of living in addition to the depression pay scale for service sector jobs have got created widespread discontent. Saint Croix has seen drive-by shootings, but most criminal offense is property-related. To protect tourism, the authorities has increased the constabulary enforcement budget. Local officials piece of work with the Drug Enforcement Agency, Customs, in addition to the Coast Guard to combat the illegal drug trade.
Social Welfare in addition to Change Programs
The Department of Human Services attempts to provide for the needs of low-income persons, the elderly, children in addition to families, in addition to the disabled.
US Virgin isle lady
Nongovernmental Organizations in addition to Other Associations
The Saint Croix Foundation is active inward community evolution in addition to has established anticrime initiatives. Environmental associations on the 3 principal islands promote ecological awareness, sponsor guided outings, in addition to encourage responsible legislation.
Gender Roles in addition to Statuses
Division of Labor past times Gender. Women are increasing their participation inward the economical in addition to political areas. The U.S. Small Business Administration established the Virgin Islands Women's Business Center inward 1999 to encourage in addition to educate women concern owners. The heroine of the 1878 project rebellion inward Saint Croix was "Queen Mary," a canefield worker. The electrical current Senate president in addition to the presiding jurist of the Territorial Court are women.
St Croix human being from USVI
Marriage, Family, in addition to Kinship
Marriage. One inward 3 families is headed past times a single woman somebody parent. The charge per unit of measurement of single teenage pregnancy is increasing in addition to is a major social concern. Wedding customs gain from the traditional African "jump the broom" to European-influenced church building ceremonies.
Domestic Unit. According to 1995 census data, married couples comprise 57 percent of households in addition to single females with children, 34 percent. The average household has 2 children.
Inheritance. The concept of jointly owned "family land" accommodates the designing of alternately settling downwards in addition to moving that has characterized the lives of many families since colonial times.
US Virgin isle adult woman from St Thomas wearing her African Heritage dress
Infant Care. Women are responsible for baby care. Breast-feeding is supplemented past times formula given inward bottles; the utilisation of formula results inward early on weaning. In to a greater extent than traditional households, folk beliefs virtually baby care, including the utilisation of "bush tea" to have sleep, are common.
Child Rearing in addition to Education. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 "bogeyman" is used every bit a threat to right children's bad behavior. Education is compulsory in addition to free. Multicultural instruction is seen every bit a necessity, but in that location is growing concern virtually Earth schools, in addition to those who tin afford private schools to a greater extent than often than non select that alternative. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 higher per centum of females than males goal high school.
Higher Education. The University of the Virgin Islands, founded inward 1962, has campuses on Saint Thomas in addition to Saint Croix. It offers bachelor's degrees inward a number of areas in addition to master's degrees inward concern direction in addition to world administration.
Religion
As inward most Caribbean Area countries, Christianity is the dominant religious belief inward the U.S. Virgin Islands. Protestantism is most prevalent, reflecting the territory's Danish colonial heritage. There is also a strong Roman Catholic presence.
The predominant religious affiliations are Baptist (42 percent), Catholic (34 percent), in addition to Episcopalian (17 percent). Remnants of African civilization are found inward the belief inward spirits.
As inward other Caribbean Area islands, Rastafari is also prevalent. There are some Jews living inward the territory, in addition to a important Muslim population, primarily of Palestinian descent.
Rituals in addition to Holy Places: Saint Thomas has the minute oldest synagogue inward the New World. Lord God of Sabaoth Lutheran Church in addition to the Friedensthal Moravian Church on Saint Croix are the oldest congregations of their form inward the United States. To commemorate their liberty inward 1848, old slaves built the All Saints Cathedral. The Arawak Indian carvings on Saint John may have got religious significance.
Cuisine
Fungi (pronounced fun-gee) is a principal staple of the traditional Virgin Islands diet. It consists of cornmeal that has been boiled in addition to cooked to a thick consistency along with okra. Fungi is commonly eaten with boiled fish or saltfish.
US Virgin Island adult woman using ladle to accept soup out of cooking clay pot
Because of inter-Caribbean migration, many foods from other Caribbean Area countries have got been adopted into the Virgin Islands culinary culture. For example, a pop dish is roti, of Indo-Trinidadian origin, which consists of curried vegetables in addition to meat wrapped inward a paper-thin dough.
Their principal snack is Pate (Pronounced PAH-TEH), fried dough filled with diverse meats including beef, chicken or saltfish stuffed within is a pop snack (similar to a Jamaican patty). Another pop snack is Johnnycake (originally known every bit 'journey cake'), a pastry also made with fried dough.
Food Customs at Ceremonial Occasions. Sugar cakes made with kokosnoot in addition to boiled sugar, are a traditional midafternoon snack. Maubi, a local drink, is made from the bark of a tree, herbs, in addition to yeast. Souse is a stew of pig's head, tail, in addition to feet, flavored with lime juice that is served on festive occasions.
“Bush tea”, a full general term for whatsoever herbal tea derived from native plants (including lemongrass), is the hot imbibe of selection inward the Virgin Islands. Popular mutual frigidness beverages include maubi, sorrel, soursop, body of body of water moss in addition to passion fruit. Drinks with ginger root are also popular.
Secular Celebrations
Legal holidays include 1 January, New Year's Day; 6 January, Three Kings Day; 15 January, Martin Luther King Day; President's Day on the 3rd Mon inward February; Memorial Day on the in conclusion Mon inward May; Independence Day, 4 July; Veterans Day, 11 November; in addition to Thanksgiving.
Legal holidays commemorating local events include Transfer Day (from Kingdom of Denmark to the US inward 1917); 31 March, Organic Act Day; Virgin Islands/Danish West Indies Emancipation Day, 3 July; in addition to D. Hamilton Jackson Day on 1 November. Carnival was officially reinstated inward 1952 in addition to is celebrated at dissimilar times. Carnival celebrations include parades, floats, stilt walking "Mocko Jumbies," steel pan competitions, beauty contests, in addition to nutrient fairs.
US Virgin isle carnival
Music of the Virgin Islands
The music of the Virgin Islands reflects long-standing West Indian cultural ties to the isle nations to the south, the islands' African heritage in addition to European colonial history, every bit good every bit recent North American influences. Though the US Virgin Islands in addition to British Virgin Islands are politically separate, they maintain unopen cultural ties. From its neighbors, the Virgin Islands has imported diverse pan-Caribbean genres of music, including calypso from Trinidad in addition to reggae from Jamaica.
The major indigenous cast of music is the scratch band (also called fungi band inward the British Virgin Islands), which utilisation improvised instruments similar gourds in addition to washboards to create a form of music called quelbe. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Virgin Island folk vocal called cariso is also popular, every bit good every bit St. Thomas' bamboula. The quadrille is the traditional folk trip the low-cal fantastic of the islands, in addition to include varieties similar St. Croix's Imperial Quadrille in addition to St. Thomas' Flat High German Quadrille. The Heritage Dancers are a respected trip the low-cal fantastic troupe that perform traditional folk dances from the Virgin Islands in addition to beyond.
Folk music: Virgin Islander folk music has declined since the mid-20th century, though some traditions, such every bit scratch bands, remain vibrant. Trends that contributed to this alter include the ascent of the tourism industry, the switch of American tourists from Republic of Cuba to the Virgin Islands next the 1959 revolution, in addition to the growth of industries based on volume radio, telly in addition to recorded music. These changes "(diluted) local traditions in addition to (diverted) younger generations" from becoming involved inward folk music, because pop styles came to live viewed every bit having to a greater extent than prestige, grade in addition to income.
Scratch bands in addition to fungi music: Scratch bands, also known every bit fungi bands in addition to formerly string bands, are a distinctive cast of folk ensemble; they have got survived the reject of other Virgin Islander folk traditions, through adapting to newly imported instrumentation in addition to songs, in addition to becoming a portion of a to a greater extent than full general revival of involvement inward folk civilization on the islands. The call scratch band may derive from the audio produced past times scraping the squash, an musical instrument similar to the Puerto Rican guiro, but larger, or from the give-and-take mash itself, used to refer to the bands firstly past times American visitors in addition to and so past times locals.
The traditional scratch band ensemble varied, but ever used a percussive instrument, either the squash, tambourine, or a local cast of double-headed barrel drum similar to the Dominican tambora, every bit good every bit an accordion, cane flute or violin every bit a melodic instrument. String instruments were also common, including the banjo, ukulele or a six-string guitar. The donkey pipe, made out of a automobile exhaust tube, often provided the bass, in addition to was played similar to the tuba. Since virtually the 1980s, the instrumentation for scratch bands became to a greater extent than rigid. The alto saxophone became the most mutual melodic instrument, replaced sometimes past times a silvery flute. Conga drums, squash, electrical guitar or bass guitar, in addition to a steel (a triangle). Banjo or ukulele, keyboard in addition to additional saxophones or other melodic instruments are to a greater extent than rarely found inward modern bands.
The music of scratch bands are a type of folk music that dates dorsum to the days of slavery. The slaves on the islands used found objects to fashion instruments, such every bit past times making strings out of twine salvaged from old sacks. Lyrics traditionally business office every bit oral history, spreading intelligence in addition to gossip. Modern scratch bands play a broad gain of dances, including calypsos, boleros, quadrilles, international pop songs, merengues, mazurkas, waltzes, jigs in addition to other styles. They perform at church building services, private parties, world festivals, local dances in addition to fairs, christenings in addition to weddings, in addition to also perform for tourists. The scratch band tradition remains most vibrant on St. Croix, where the bands Bully & the Kafooners, Stanley & the Ten Sleepless Knights, in addition to Blinky & the Roadmasters are good known. Scratch bands are less mutual on St. Thomas, in addition to inward the British Virgin Islands, though the pop Elmo & the Sparkplugs hail from Tortola.
Quelbe: Quelbe is a cast of topical folk song, in addition to is the official music of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Quelbe is commonly performed past times scratch bands, Stanley & the Ten Sleepless Nights existence the most pop throughout the Virgin Islands, though their folk rootage lies inward individuals, who sang the songs inward informal settings, celebrations in addition to festivals. These songs typically contained sexual innuendos in addition to double entendres, every bit good every bit other hidden meanings; mutual topics included political events, such every bit a boycott. One representative from the early on 20th century chastises a carousel possessor for opposing a wage increase:
I rather walk in addition to imbibe rum whole night
Before me go ride on LaBega Carousel
I rather walk, man, in addition to imbibe rum whole night
Before me go ride on LaBega Carousel
You no remove heed what LaBega say
"The people no worth to a greater extent than than 15 cent a day"
You no remove heed what LaBega say, man
"The people no worth to a greater extent than than one-half cent a day" (Soule, Mary Jane; Lieth-Phillip, Margot (1993). Zoop Zoop Zoop: Traditional Music in addition to Folklore of St. Croix, St. Thomas, in addition to St. John. Liner notes. New York: New World Records. cited inward Sheehy, pg. 971)
Other folk styles: The quadrille is a folk trip the low-cal fantastic that was formerly an of import portion of Virgin Islands culture; it is at nowadays rarely performed, except on St. Croix. There, locals trip the low-cal fantastic the quadrille at world performance venues, such every bit St. Gerard's Hall, or every bit educational glasses for schools, festivals in addition to holidays, or every bit amusement for tourists. Educational in addition to amusement quadrille troops both have on traditionally styled wearable reminiscent of authentic attire.
The Virgin Islands tea meetings, the David in addition to Goliath play in addition to masquerade jig all in all likelihood derive from elsewhere inward the Caribbean. The masquerade jig uses elements of theater, dance, music in addition to oratory, in addition to functions every bit uncomplicated amusement with improvised jigs alternated with humorous monologues. Tea meetings are at nowadays only performed every bit reconstructions inward folkloric ensembles; they were evenings of speech-making, feasting in addition to the singing of hymns in addition to parlor songs. The David in addition to Goliath play features music, dance, theater, in addition to dramatic in addition to witty speeches, all based about the biblical plot of David in addition to Goliath.
The Afro-Virgin Islander bamboula tradition is at nowadays only performed inward a reconstructed fashion. It was a vogue of song, drumming in addition to folk dance, performed past times 2 drummers on 1 drum; 1 drum used his hands in addition to heel, in addition to the other 2 sticks. African-styled trip the low-cal fantastic in addition to grouping vocal with refrains were a constant part, with verses oftentimes improvised past times a soloist.
Traditional Virgin Islander folk music festivals were performed until the belatedly 1950s. Masquerading (mas'ing) was an of import tradition, in addition to consisted of groups wearing costumes based about a theme, in addition to playing melodies in addition to rhythms that advise their identity. Instruments included a fife-and-drum ensemble that featured a cane fife, double-headed bass drum (known every bit keg or boom-boom) in addition to snare drum (known every bit kettledrum).
Caribbean Quadrille Genera
The Virgin Islander cariso tradition is extinct inward a truthful folk context, but remains an of import symbol of Crucian culture, in addition to is performed past times folkloric ensembles for educational in addition to opor-garai events. Carisos were silent performed every bit belatedly every bit the 1990s past times several elderly singers, most famously Ethel McIntosh in addition to Leona Watson. Though similar inward some ways to quelbe, cariso is to a greater extent than African inward its melodic style, frequent sustained syllables in addition to traditional performance context, namely women singing inward groups inward call-and-response. Carisos, similar quelbe, commemorate historical events, in addition to spread intelligence in addition to opinions virtually of import issues. One especially famous cariso dates to 1848, in addition to documents the emancipation of the slaves; the firstly segment is the refrain, sung past times a chorus, which is followed past times a poetry performed past times a soloist singer:
"Clear the road, all you lot clear the road, Clear the road, allow the slave them pass, We a go for a-we freedom.
Hardship inward the morning, suffering at night. No 1 ever aid us, it is only Father Ryan. They convey nosotros ya from Africa, that nosotros bornin' land; Bring nosotros ya inward slavery, inward the solid reason of Santa Cruz."
By the 1980s, Virgin Islands was dwelling to many imported styles, especially salsa, reggae, soca, merengue in addition to rock. Jazz, Western classical music in addition to musical theater, along with international pop stars, were mutual mainstream interests, piece the islands' youth formed bands in addition to trip the low-cal fantastic troupes that played styles pop across the Caribbean, mainly Latin, Jamaican in addition to Trinidadian influenced, such every bit salsa, reggae, steelpan in addition to soca. The large Puerto Rican population inward the Virgin Islands kept pop music from Puerto Rico in addition to the Dominican Republic a major portion of the islands' industry.
Calypso: The firstly calypso star from the Virgin Islands was Lloyd "Prince" Thomas, who moved to New York City inward the mid-1940s in addition to continued performing for some 20 years. Charles Harris, the Mighty Zebra (a well-known Trinidadian calypsonian) influentially performed inward the Virgin Islands inward the 1950s; he came for the Carnival inward 1952, in addition to stayed, playing at the Virgin Isles Hotel with the LaMotta Brothers Band. The LaMotta Band, led past times Bill LaMotta, was a real pop grouping that recorded several albums in addition to backed Mighty Zebra on a 1957 album for RCA Records. The remaining major early on calypso band from the Virgin Islands was the Fabulous McClevertys, who toured widely across the East Coast of the US at the meridian of the calypso craze inward the belatedly 1950s.
Another pop Virgin Islands calypsonian is Irvin "Brownie" Brown, who has hosted the islands' Carnival in addition to has been a leading singer, radio entertainer, MC in addition to drummer for many years. Originally from St. Thomas, he learned the timbales every bit a immature man, in addition to joined his uncle's hotel band inward 1949 or 1950. The band presently began performing inward Florida in addition to elsewhere, in addition to Brownie became known every bit a calypso vocaliser piece also learning bongos, congas in addition to a trap set. They recorded for Monogram in addition to and so Art Records, with Mighty Panther in addition to the Haitian vocaliser Calypso Mama. Brownie's homecoming to St. Thomas was followed past times joining upwards with Milo & the Kings, a well-known band, for whom he was a percussion for seventeen years, recording a number of albums in addition to touring across North America in addition to the Caribbean. He began working every bit a DJ for the WSTA radio station inward 1966, in addition to continued for to a greater extent than than 3 decades; he had a regular speak exhibit with calypso performances, The Original Side of Walter in addition to Brownie.
Salsa: In the 1950s through introduce solar daytime Milo in addition to the Kings (Emile Francis - music director) kept Latin music alive, especially on St. Thomas. Milo in addition to the Kings were famous for playing with such infamous bands every bit El Gran Combo (Rafael Ithier - music manager in addition to Salsa Maestro to Milo), Tito Puento, Joe Cuba, Mongo Santa Maria, to call a few. Present solar daytime Milo's Kings sometimes endeavour to laurels Milo with Salsa. In 1998 Puerto RIco became the birthplace of Reggaeton music, a mix of Reggae in addition to Latin music combined with Castilian Rap & Reggae. Prominent Reggaeton Artist from the Virgin Islands include Kamakazi, Nicky Jam, Nene Ganja, Panty Man.
Soca: The Virgin Islands has been dwelling to a number of well-known soca bands. Among the oldest in addition to most respected are: Milo & The Kings, Mandingo Brass, Imaginations Brass, & Eddie & the Movements (later renamed the "Awesome JamBand").
The "Jam Band" (formerly Eddie & the Movements) are 20 fourth dimension Road March Champions. The original "Jam Band" slowed upwards with the decease of the band's principal forepart human being "Nick 'Daddy' Friday" who died inward 2005. The Enforcements band hailed out of Monbijou, St. Croix (many members branched out to cast dissimilar bands).
The Imaginations Brass was the firstly grouping to contain the used of electronic drums & keyboard sequencers into their music. They started the tendency & other groups (such every bit Seventeen Plus & the JamBand) afterwards advanced the technique. It demonstrated the total utilisation of the drum machines, electronic keyboards, vocals, in addition to a bass line working together to laid a novel criterion for Caribbean Area Music.
Other pop bands included: Seventeen Plus (17+); VIO International; Xpress Band (St. Croix Festival's 2006-2007 Roadmarch Champions); Starlites; P'your Passion Band; Xtaushun Band (St. Croix Festival two-time Road March Champions)."; Fusion Band(St. Croix Festival four-time Road March Champions); DJATC (Daddy Jones And The Crew); the Jammerz HP (formerly known every bit JDPP Jammerz); De Fabulous Stroka Band; Hyvoltage Band; Code 9; Xpress Band; Jam Tyme; UMB Soldiers; Rupsion Band; Spectrum Band (St. Thomas Carnival four-time Road March Champions); Kylo & Stylee Band; in addition to Pumpa & The Unit have got also made names for themselves.
Reggae: A reggae scene has been flourishing inward the Virgin Islands, especially the isle of St. Croix. The Virgin Islands reggae scene has achieved much popularity throughout the Lesser Antilles, Puerto Rico, the United States, South America in addition to Europe. Prominent reggae artists from the Virgin Islands include Pressure, Midnite, Dezarie, Army, Abja, De Apostle, Niyorah, Emanuel, Bambu Station, Inner Visions, Sabbattical Ahdah, Eno, Revalation, Iba Wicked, Jah Rubal, Jah Croix in addition to many more. The reggae music of St. Croix has a distinct "roots" feeling in addition to is strongly rooted inward Rastafari. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 prominent known reggae label inward St. Croix is I Grade Records, who have got released countless Midnite releases, 2 Dezarie albums, Niyorah albums, Army albums in addition to Abja albums. Bambu Station guitarist Tuff Lion, along with Laurent Alfred of I Grade Records make many of the tracks.
St. Croix also boasts a reggae radio station, WSTX 100.3 FM, which features Virgin Islands reggae.
Band Music: European-based state of war machine band music firstly came to the Virgin Islands through ship-based bands every bit good every bit the little state of war machine ensembles of the Danish troops based inward the islands. Regular band concerts were given past times Danish musicians inward Charlotte Amalie at to the lowest degree every bit early on every bit 1888 at the Emancipation Garden bandstand. The Native Brass Band, reportedly the firstly official band of local musicians, was formed nether the management of Lionel Roberts inward 1907, piece the Adams Juvenile Band appeared inward 1910 in addition to would live inducted into the U.S. Navy when the service took over the direction of the islands from Kingdom of Denmark inward 1917. The induction of this all-black unit of measurement into the U.S. Navy was remarkable for its fourth dimension in addition to hence recognized the firstly dark musicians inward the U.S. Navy since the War of 1812. The US Navy Band of the Virgin Islands gave regular world concerts on St. Thomas until the divergence of the naval direction inward 1931, in addition to non long after its founding 2 additional navy band units were stationed on St. Croix. Alton Augustus Adams, Sr., the founder of the Juvenile Band in addition to the bandmaster of the Navy ensemble, also wrote the Virgin Islands March (1919), at nowadays the official territorial anthem of the Virgin Islands, every bit good every bit The Governor's Own, the official march of the Virgin Islands Governor. With the exception of a single surviving bamboula arrangement, Adams's marches are alone inward the criterion American march vogue of his idol, John Philip Sousa.
Hip-Hop: There has been the evolution of a hip-hop scene inward the Virgin Islands, especially on the isle of St. Thomas. There is also a burgeoning hip-hop scene with Virgin Islands artists inward the Atlanta metropolitan area. Prominent Virgin Islands hip-hop artists include DJ Many from St.Croix Iyaz from Tortola, Rock City, Verse Simmonds from St. Thomas, K'Are from Tortola, Virgin Islands, British of the CB 4 Lyfe army camp who also does Solo but is silent a fellow member of CB in addition to the VI centered hip hop grouping Dem Rude Boyz.
Sports
Americanization inward the U.S. Virgin Islands has led to the preponderance of American sports such every bit baseball, American football game in addition to basketball, piece sports to a greater extent than pop inward the English-speaking Caribbean, such every bit cricket in addition to football, are also played.
Americanization inward sports tin live seen inward the British Virgin Islands, every bit well. For example, basketball game is much to a greater extent than widely played than cricket, 1 of the most pop sports inward the Anglophone Caribbean.
Although dependent territories, the U.S. in addition to British Virgin Islands both have got their ain independent national sports teams in addition to compete inward regional in addition to international athletic events. In cricket, both territories are represented past times the West Indies Cricket Team.
http://www.everyculture.com/To-Z/United-States-Virgin-Islands.html
St. John Slave Rebellion past times Akan Akwamu people of Gold Coast (Ghana)
Excerpted from St. John Off The Beaten Track
The Slave Trade
The Danish colonization of St. John was undertaken inward 1718 for the purpose of establishing plantations where tropical products such every bit sugar, cotton, indigo in addition to other crops could live cultivated. The most profitable of these crops was sugar.
St John Slave revolt
Sugar production inward the West Indies was an extremely lucrative affair. The abrupt introduction of saccharide to Europe created a nifty demand for this exotic novel product. With this high demand in addition to preciously little supply, the cost of saccharide was high, in addition to the turn a profit potential was enormous. Many of those involved inward this novel manufacture were able to accumulate nifty wealth in addition to power. It has been said that the only introduce solar daytime concern comparable to the saccharide merchandise of the colonial days is drug trafficking.
European colonial powers battled fiercely over command of the novel colonies. Pirates in addition to privateers infested the seas inward an orgy of murder in addition to plunder. Worst of all was the evolution of slavery every bit an establishment inward the Americas. Slave project was employed for the exploitation, settlement, in addition to evolution of the novel territories.
When the Castilian firstly invaded in addition to colonized the New World, they attempted to utilisation the indigenous population every bit a slave project force. Disease brought past times the Europeans, warfare, vicious treatment, in addition to overwork all but wiped out this race within a curt time.
When the Danes occupied St. Thomas inward 1672 in that location were no indigenous inhabitants living there, nor were in that location whatsoever on St. John inward 1718. Therefore, the possibility of obtaining slave project from this source was non available to the Danes.
The Danish authorities in addition to the government-supported in addition to subsidized Danish West Bharat Company tried to encourage immature Danes to emigrate to St. Thomas to project on the plantations. Very few responded. Prisoners were in addition to so brought over to piece of work every bit indentured servants with the stipulation that they would have their liberty after 6 years, though few would last that long. Apart from this, indentured servitude was exactly the same every bit slavery. They lived, ate in addition to worked with the slaves in addition to were bailiwick to the same arbitrary punishments. Their social spot was of the lowest monastic tell in addition to they were looked downwards upon past times both Africans in addition to Europeans. The prisoners viewed emigration to the colonies every bit a decease sentence. Their desperation in addition to discontent resulted inward mutinies in addition to resistance. In response, the Danes began to identify to a greater extent than emphasis on the importation of slave project from Africa.
The firstly African slaves were brought to Hispaniola inward 1502, in addition to slavery was non completely abolished until the early on twentieth century. During this roughly 4 hundred twelvemonth span, it has been estimated that every bit many every bit 12 1000000 Africans were unwillingly transported to the Americas.
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 cast of slavery existed within Africa prior to the advent of European colonialism. Tribalism has been a major influence inward African political history, in addition to warfare betwixt competition tribes was a mutual occurrence. Many of the Africans who were sold into slavery were prisoners captured inward these tribal wars.
The establishment of slavery that developed inward the colonization of the Americas was, firstly in addition to foremost, a business. It was characterized past times the turn a profit motive, greed, in addition to lacked morality, pity in addition to human decency. The Europeans' demand for inexpensive project created the demand. The existence of slaves acquired through the persistent warring of African nations provided the supply. Thus, a marketplace in addition to merchandise for human beings was established.
The captives were brought to the European forts or slave factories. The factors, or buyers, at the fort would purchase the slaves using a barter system. The slaves were in addition to so chained in addition to stored inward warehouses called barrcoons until the slave ships arrived.
The Danes maintained such a fort at Accra on the Republic of Guinea Coast called Christianborg. The Danish West Bharat in addition to Republic of Guinea Company sent companionship ships bearing items such every bit rum, firearms, gunpowder, wearable in addition to other goods, which were bartered for ivory, gilt in addition to slaves to the tribal leaders controlling the trade.
The voyage to the New World was known every bit the Middle Passage. Captives were confined into such little areas that it was impossible to stand upwards or fifty-fifty sit. Inside the ship's holds, it was dark, dank in addition to stuffy. There was no proper ventilation or sanitary facilities. The ship's officers in addition to crew were made upwards of the prisoners, misfits in addition to outcasts of Europe. Women were subjected to rapes in addition to indignities. Disease, desperation in addition to suicide claimed many lives earlier the ships fifty-fifty reached their concluding destinations inward America or the West Indies.
Upon arrival the slaves were sold at world auction in addition to and so marched to the plantations for a menstruation of "seasoning". One 3rd of these novel arrivals from Africa, called bussals, died during the seasoning period.
Early Danish settlement
The Danish West Bharat in addition to Republic of Guinea Company was chartered inward 1671 in addition to given the right to principle in addition to exploit Denmark's firstly colony inward the New World - St. Thomas. The companionship was granted a majestic charter to St. John from the King of Kingdom of Denmark inward 1717 in addition to St. John was nether companionship dominion until King Frederick of Kingdom of Denmark terminated this understanding inward 1755.
Twenty v settlers (eleven Dutch, nine Danes in addition to v Frenchmen), xvi enslaved Africans, in addition to v Danish soldiers, nether the command of Axel Dahl, sailed to St. John inward the companionship of the governor of St. Thomas, Erik Bredal. They landed inward Coral Bay on the eastward goal of the island.
Seventeenth century Kingdom of Denmark had marginal resources in addition to a relatively little population of roughly 1 one-half 1000000 people. Moreover, the Danes were reluctant to emigrate to the novel colonies in addition to Kingdom of Denmark lacked a sufficient population to effectively occupy their novel territories. To compensate for this, foreigners were invited into the population of the colonies.
The largest in addition to most influential of these foreigners to settle inward St. Thomas, in addition to afterwards to settle on St. John, were Dutch. By 1721, of the 39 planters on St. John in that location were 25 Dutchmen in addition to only nine Danes. The Dutch, to a greater extent than than whatsoever other national group, influenced the civilization of the Danish colonies, which prior to the acquisition of St. Croix inward 1733, consisted only of St. Thomas in addition to St. John. The most of import linguistic communication was Dutch in addition to Dutch Creole became the "lingua franca" of the Danish islands.
By 1733 to a greater extent than than 1,000 slaves labored on 109 plantations on St. John. Twenty-one of these plantations were inward the concern of planting in addition to processing sugar. The residuum grew cotton fiber in addition to other crops. By the goal of the century, however, the vast bulk of the plantations were dedicated to saccharide production, in addition to in that location were to a greater extent than than 2,500 slaves on the island. On average, 1 slave was used for the tillage of each acre of land.
African Background of the Rebellion
As early on every bit the kickoff of the seventeenth century, Accra on the Republic of Guinea Coast had go a centre of economical power. The Accra tribe acted every bit the middleman inward the central of slaves, gilt in addition to ivory from the interior for manufactured goods such every bit firearms, powder, lead, rum in addition to textile from the Europeans who operated out of fortifications on the coast.
The Danes entered the slave merchandise inward 1657 past times attacking the Swedes who were already established on the West Coast of Africa. By the kickoff of the eighteenth century, the Danish West Bharat in addition to Republic of Guinea Company had consolidated their slave functioning to the vicinity of Accra in addition to traded with the Accra tribe.
All move in addition to shipping from the interior to the coast occurred along narrow woods paths. The Accras used some other tribe, the Akwamu, whom the Danes called the Amina, to command the passage of merchants in addition to merchandise along these trails. This was done so that all goods from the interior would have got to go past times through an Accra-dominated expanse due north of the region's capital, Great Accra. Thus, direct access to the Europeans was denied to the traders from the interior, in addition to merchants were forced to have got the Accras every bit middlemen. For this unwanted service, the Accras demanded a per centum of the profits of this lucrative trade.
As fourth dimension went on, the Akwamu, who had been paying tribute to the Accras, became to a greater extent than powerful. They straight controlled the paths leading from the inland centers to the European commanded forts on the coast. Realizing their power, the Akwamu demanded a tribute inward gilt from the Accras inward monastic tell to permit traders to go past times through Akwamu territory. In the 1670s the Akwamus allied themselves with the Accras' neighboring tribes, the Agaves to the eastward in addition to the Agonas to the west. These alliances spot farther line per unit of measurement area on the Accras.
The Akwamus were fantabulous warriors. They developed an improved state of war machine strategy specific to the atmospheric condition imposed past times the heavily forested environment. They also emphasized the utilisation of missile weaponry, such every bit bows in addition to arrows in addition to flintlock rifles, which they obtained from the Europeans.
In 1677 the Akwamus attacked in addition to conquered the Accras. Through a serial of violent in addition to bloody state of war machine campaigns, the Akwamus became the dominant tribe inward the district of Accra, along the lower Gold Coast in addition to the Upper Slave Coast.
Thousands were killed, in addition to many prisoners were taken. The Accras, old allies in addition to trading partners of the Danes, fled to the fort at Christianborg seeking protection. The commanders of the fort chose to remain neutral in addition to did zero to halt the slaughter in addition to capture of the Accras.
The Akwamus were heavy-handed inward dealing with the tribes they had conquered. They forcibly conscripted troops from the conquered tribes, demanded tributes in addition to payments, levied excessive taxes, in addition to resorted to the instigation of disputes in addition to other forms of trickery in addition to unfair tactics to justify the enslavement of peoples from the conquered tribes.
For example, I. Akwamu Wilks inward The Rise of the Akwamu Empire, 1650-1710, wrote:
In every town (the Akwamu) took some wives, 3 or 4 according to the size of the town, in addition to left them in that location to stay. Then every twelvemonth they would move from identify to place, in addition to create these wives consume fetish (That is, swear to tell the truth on hurting of decease from divine power) so that they would confess what men had had contact with them. These disclosures were made willingly, since the women would acquire portion of the fines, in addition to the gallants powerfulness live sold every bit slaves unless their friends ransomed them.
The Akwamu abuse of ability eventually led to resistance in addition to rebellion from the tyrannized peoples. When the Akwamu manly somebody monarch died inward 1725, a conflict arose over who would accept power. This weakened the Akwamus, in addition to the conquered peoples of the expanse attacked the Akwamu nation. By 1730 the Akwamu were defeated, their uppercase urban pith destroyed, in addition to their reigning manly somebody monarch beheaded.
Once over again the oppressed became the oppressors in addition to thousands of Akwamu men in addition to women were sold into slavery. Many of these Akwamus were sold to the Danes at the fort inward Christianborg inward the early on portion of the 1730s. They were in addition to so placed on ships boundary for the slave marketplace inward St. Thomas. Many were sold to plantations on St. John.
From the company's records:
Haabet Galley, Danish registry, Captain A.H. Hammer, came to St. Thomas, Feb 1731, to sell 21 men 29 women, 5 boys, total of 55 out of Guinea; Cost to companionship wholesale seventy rigsdalers, cost to planter 120 rigsdalers.
From the company's records:
Laarburg Galley, Danish registry, Captain Lorenzo Jaeger (replaced past times Captain Hammer) May 1733. It carried 443 captives out of Republic of Guinea of whom 242 survived (124 men, 64 women, 26, boys, 28 girls); 199 died of dysentery in addition to 2 were sold to the Portuguese. The ship made an overall turn a profit of 69.5% from the survivors; cost to company; seventy rigsdalers, cost to planters; 120-150 rigsdalers. (From MAPes MONDe Collection)
In 1733 at the fourth dimension of the slave rebellion in that location were hundreds of Akwamu men in addition to women with the slave population of St. John. Of the roughly 150 Africans who were involved inward the rebellion, all were Akwamus. Africans of other ethnic backgrounds, some of whom had been sold into slavery past times the Akwamus, did non back upwards the rebellion. Some fifty-fifty joined the Europeans against the Akwamus.
The Akwamus on St. John did non reckon themselves every bit slaves, but rather every bit slave owners. Many were nobles, wealthy merchants or powerful warriors who were accustomed to large commands.
Information on the African background came from Sandra F. Greene's query appearing inward The Danish West Indian Slave Trade, past times George F. Tyson in addition to Arnold R. Highfield.
Causes of the rebellion
Weakness of the Central Government in addition to the Military
As previously mentioned, Denmark, a comparatively weak nation, began their colonization of the New World afterwards than the other European colonial powers. St. Thomas in addition to St. John were rocky, mountainous, in addition to lacked a important amount of rainfall. The Danes were able to colonize in addition to settle these islands mainly because none of the other Europeans showed much involvement inward acquiring this territory.
Without a sufficient number of their ain citizens to inhabit their novel colonies, Kingdom of Denmark invited peoples of other nations to settle them. Thus, foreigners exerted a strong influence on authorities decisions.
The plantations were only marginally profitable, in addition to the Danish West Bharat Company lacked the motivation in addition to the resources to provide a strong regular army for the defense forcefulness of the islands. They relied instead on a citizen's militia. On St. John this province of affairs bordered on the absurd. Aside from the ineffective civil guard, the number of soldiers stationed on St. John at the fourth dimension of the slave rebellion numbered six. Moreover, morale was depression in addition to the incidence of disease, alcoholism in addition to mortality were high.
Absentee Ownership of Plantations
Many of St. John's plantations were owned past times men in addition to women from St. Thomas who also had estates on that island. The St. Thomians commonly hired overseers called Mesterknegte to care their holdings on St. John. These overseers were non ever honest in addition to often failed to deed inward the best interests of the planters. (Out of sight, out of mind.) The overseers surely did non give the interests of the slaves much attention.
Low Ratio of European to Africans on St. John
Partly because many of the plantation owners in addition to their families lived inward St. Thomas, in addition to partly due to the nature of the plantation scheme itself, the ratio of European planters to African slaves on St. John became extremely low. The lack of a town or whatsoever choice industries also contributed to this depression ratio.
Drought, Starvation in addition to Marooning
On St. John slaves were required to provide the project necessary to grow the nutrient they ate. They did this on their ain plots of land, which were cultivated inward their spare time. Because in that location was no supervision past times the owners or overseers, slaves could utilisation the fourth dimension spent tending these grounds to speak freely with themselves in addition to to create plans.
In 1725 in addition to 1726 in addition to over again inward 1733, St. John experienced prolonged droughts, in addition to the provision grounds could non yield sufficient food; the slaves faced starvation.
In 1733 much of the solid reason on St. John was non yet cleared in addition to in that location were silent large areas of thick bush in addition to forest. The opportunities provided past times this environment, combined with the skills the slaves developed from tending their provision grounds, made it possible for them to run away from the plantation. They were able to disappear into the bush in addition to provide for themselves past times tending little gardens, gathering in addition to fishing. The tearing in addition to warlike Akwamu (or Aminas every bit they were called past times the Danes) also demanded the back upwards of slaves silent on the plantations.
By 1733 starvation, overwork, in addition to harsh handling had caused a important number of slaves from the Amina tribe to maroon.
US Virgin islander
Slave Code of 1733
The drought of 1733 ended with a severe hurricane inward July. This was followed past times a plague of insects. Both plantation crops in addition to provision grounds were devastated. Governor Philip Gardelin's Code of 1733 was written primarily every bit a reply to the occupation of marooning. Almost one-half of the xix provisions included inward the code provided punishments for diverse forms in addition to aspects of maroonage.
If slaves ran away to some other country, or fifty-fifty contemplated, conspired, or attempted to acquire out the country, the penalization was torture past times red-hot pincers at 3 split upwards world locations, followed past times execution.
Those running away or conspiring to run away from the plantation, but non involving escape from the Danish islands were to lose a leg. If their masters pardoned them, they were to have 150 strokes in addition to endure the loss of an ear.
Punishments of varying severity such every bit the cutting off of a leg, branding or whipping were prescribed for dissimilar degrees of maroonage, such every bit maroonage lasting over 6 months, maroonage over 2 weeks, in addition to failure to inform of plots to run away.
The outnumbered whites also felt it necessary to include inward the code, punishments for failure to exhibit proper honour in addition to deference. Menacing gestures or verbal insults to whites could live punishable past times hanging, preceded past times 3 applications of glowing pincers. At the discretion of the insulted or menaced victim, the slave's penalization could alternatively live the amputation of an arm. If a slave met a white somebody on the street, the slave would have got to pace aside.
It was prohibited for slaves to have on iron-tipped sticks or knives at their sides, although the carrying of machetes was allowed. The argue for this was that because the slaves were prohibited from owning weapons, they had developed the fine art of fighting with their walking sticks. This cast of fighting reached the sophistication of the advanced martial arts practiced inward other areas of the world. Machetes, on the other hand, were perceived every bit tools.
Theft of belongings past times slaves was punishable past times torture followed past times hanging. Petty theft in addition to possession of stolen belongings was punishable past times branding on the brow in addition to upwards to 150 strokes.
Being out past times curfew was punishable past times whipping. Dancing, feasts, or funeral rites involving the utilisation of "Negro instruments" every bit good every bit the practise of Obeah was prohibited in addition to would live punished past times whipping.
Conspiracy to poison, or the utilisation of poison, was punishable past times torture with hot pincers, existence broken on the bike in addition to and so burnt alive.
The preamble to the code expressed the philosophy that the slave was the belongings of the possessor in addition to had no rights.
The constabulary was written inward an elbow grease to command the slaves through intimidation in addition to terror and, thereby to forestall marooning. The passage of the law, however, produced the opposite effect. The slaves, faced with the impossible selection betwixt starvation on 1 mitt in addition to mutilation in addition to execution on the other, realized that their only means out was rebellion.
Rebellion
On Nov 23, 1733 slaves carrying bundles of wood were allow into the fort at Coral Bay. Concealed inward the wood were cane knives, which the rebels used to kill the half-asleep in addition to surprised soldiers who were guarding the fort. One soldier, John Gabriel, escaped past times hiding nether his bed in addition to running away when he had a chance. He was able to acquire to St. Thomas inward a little boat in addition to tell the story to Danish officials there. The rebels raised the flag in addition to fired 3 cannon shots. This was the signal for slaves on the plantations to kill their masters in addition to accept command of the island.
The rebels proceeded to kill many of the whites inward the Coral Bay area. The insurgents gained inward number every bit they progressed from plantation to plantation. Some whites were spared, notably the company's doctor, Cornelius Bödger, because of the proficient human relationship he had with the Africans inward treating their medical needs. Also spared were Dr. Bödger's 2 stepsons. They were saved from decease out of honour for the surgeon, in addition to also to live made into servants for the novel rebel leaders.
The stated aim of the rebels was to create St. John an Akwamu ruled state, governed nether the Akwamu system. Africans of other tribal origins were to serve every bit slaves inward the production of saccharide in addition to other crops.
Many of the little planters on the East End, who had few slaves or possessions, were able to escape to other islands inward their identify unit of measurement boats. Some of the whites from the western in addition to southern parts of the isle were warned past times loyal slaves, in addition to they were either able to escape to St. Thomas or to get together with the other surviving planters at Durloe's Plantation at Caneel Bay (then known every bit Klein Caneel Bay). The approach to the plantation was guarded inward portion past times 2 cannons. Captain Jannis von Beverhaut in addition to Lt. Charles assumed command. Women in addition to children were sent to Henley Cay with the intention that they live picked upwards afterwards in addition to brought to St. Thomas.
Meanwhile, the rebels attacked Cinnamon Bay (then called Caneel Bay). John in addition to Lieven Jansen in addition to a little grouping of their slaves resisted the onslaught. The rebel forcefulness was overwhelming. Jansen's loyal slaves fought a bring upwards guard activity in addition to held off the advancing rebels with gunfire, hence allowing the Jansens to retreat to their waiting boat in addition to escape to Durloe's Plantation. Miraculously, the loyal slaves were also able to escape.
The rebels paused to loot the Jansen plantation earlier pressing onward to human face upwards the white planters at Durloe's. The attackers became disorganized when faced with the initial cannon in addition to musket give notice of the defenders, in addition to the onrush on Durloe's plantation was repulsed.
Meanwhile inward St. Thomas, Governor Philip Gardelin, nether line per unit of measurement area from old Governor Moth, consented to send a little political party of soldiers to St. John to relieve the besieged planters. More troops nether the leadership of William Barrens, every bit good every bit a detachment consisting mainly of African slaves sent past times the Danish West Bharat Company in addition to past times St. Thomas planters, arrived on St. John presently afterwards. This well-armed in addition to well-supplied regular army was able to recapture the fort in addition to scatter the rebels who in addition to so took to hiding inward the bush to struggle a state of war of attrition.
To find the status quo, the planters needed to wipe out the in conclusion vestiges of resistance. The remaining rebels could go along to last past times looting abandoned plantations in addition to little farms in addition to past times living off the solid reason where cattle at nowadays ran wild all over the island. The rebels would live a constant harassment to the orderly evolution in addition to functioning of whatsoever restored plantations. Furthermore, the Company in addition to the St. Thomas planters feared that the St. John rebellion would inspire uprisings on St. Thomas in addition to wanted to discourage slaves on that isle from taking similar action.
The insurgents held their ground, fighting a guerrilla vogue state of war in addition to disappearing into the bush when confronted with direct onrush past times the numerically superior troops led past times the planters. This status quo continued for 10 weeks.
The British were also concerned that the rebellion powerfulness spread to Tortola, in addition to they decided to aid the Danes past times sending an English linguistic communication Man O' War from Tortola to St. John. The warship was commanded past times a Captain Tallard had a crew of threescore soldiers.
When the British ship landed on St. John, the rebels staged an ambush inward which 4 of Tallard's men were wounded. Tallard in addition to his men, demoralized past times this defeat, sailed dorsum to Tortola.
Meanwhile, the possessor of the plantation at Maho Bay, William Vessuup, had abandoned his plantation in addition to fled to Tortola after existence implicated inward a murder. Maroon slaves had taken upwards residence at his plantation in addition to had afterwards used it every bit a headquarters for their troops inward the rebellion.
In an endeavour to find favor with the Danes in addition to live exonerated from the criminal charges against him, Vessuup offered a programme to play tricks the rebels. He was to lure the leaders aboard his ship with the hope of supplying them with badly needed guns in addition to ammunition. He in addition to so planned to capture the rebel leaders in addition to plough them over to the Danes. This endeavour at treachery, however, proved to live unsuccessful.
In Feb of 1734 the St. John planters over again solicited assist from the English, in addition to shortly afterwards Captain John Maddox, a privateer, sailing from St. Christopher (St. Kitts) arrived on the ship Diamond with 50 volunteers. His motivation was personal gain. He arranged a contract with Danish officials that would have got allowed him to maintain all rebel slaves captured except for the 10 considered most dangerous. They were to live turned over to the Danes for punishment. For these 10 he demanded a payment of 20 pieces-of-eight each. On their firstly confrontation with the Africans, the forces of John Maddox suffered a loss of 3 killed (including 1 of his sons) in addition to v wounded. Like his predecessor Captain Tollard, Captain Maddox in addition to his men left St. John shortly after their defeat.
English linguistic communication Governor Mathews wrote:
On St. John the Danes at introduce hardly have got possession. Their negroes rose upon them virtually 6 months ago. At my firstly arrival I heard they had quelled their slaves, but it was non so, they have got inward a mode drove the Danes off, at to the lowest degree they dare non at nowadays endeavour whatsoever to a greater extent than to cut back these Negroes, who have got ever beaten them, in addition to inward a mode are masters of that Island. The governor of St. Thomas, was fifty-fifty pocket-size plenty to wishing I would send some of H. M. ships to cut back them...and I at nowadays larn a rash boyfriend from St. Christophers, inward opened upwards defiance of my positive orders to the contrary, having made a compact with the Danish governor, went with his 2 sons in addition to 3 or 4 in addition to 20 to a greater extent than on this errand, that the negroes have got killed 1 if non both his sons, in addition to 2 or 3 to a greater extent than of his company, in addition to beaten them off.
In early on Apr of 1734 a grouping of virtually 40 rebels attacked Durloe's Plantation. This assault, similar the previous one, was almost successful, but was finally repulsed past times the defenders. The insurgents managed, though, to laid give notice to the defenders furnish magazine.
Events inward far away Europe were to bargain a deathblow to the rebel cause. King Louis of French Republic wanted to create his father-in-law, Stanislas Leszcynski the King of Poland. This would hateful state of war with Poland, in addition to French Republic needed to know that Kingdom of Denmark would at to the lowest degree remain neutral. In add-on to this, French Republic was inward demand of coin after having suffered severe fiscal losses inward their Mississippi colony.
The Danes had been interested inward the isle of St. Croix for quite some time. Sensing an opportunity, the Danish West Bharat Company offered the French 750,000 livres for St. Croix in addition to sweetened the bargain with the hope of Danish neutrality.
As a gesture of solidarity with their novel friends, French Republic offered Kingdom of Denmark aid inward subduing the slave rebellion on St. John. Monsieur de Champigny, the Governor of the French West Indies, sent Commander Chevalier de Longueville from Martinique to St. John with a forcefulness of 2 hundred soldiers. This included a gratis colored corps whose specialty was the tracking down, capturing in addition to killing of runaway slaves, an activity they called maroon hunting.
The French detachment arrived on St. John on Apr 23, 1734 inward 2 vessels, 1 commanded past times Monsieur de Longueville in addition to the other commanded past times Monsieur Nadau. Danish Governor Gardelin dispatched a forcefulness of virtually thirty men nether the command of Lt. Froling to offering whatsoever assistance necessary to the French soldiers. Gardelin also sent attorney Fries who was to mete out justice to captured rebels.
The French troops proceeded to relentlessly pursue the remaining rebels. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 rebel encampment of twenty-six huts was found in addition to destroyed. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 immature severely wounded slave named Jan was captured in addition to led the soldiers to a indicate of solid reason (Ram Head Point) where 11 rebels had committed suicide. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 few weeks afterwards 8 slaves, 2 of whom were women, surrendered after their original promised them clemency.
From St. John Backtime, "The Raw Truth has Been Reported," Commander Longueville, from a document discovered in addition to inward the Colonies department of the French National Archives past times Aimery P. Caron in addition to Arnold R. Highfield:
On Dominicus the 16 (May 16, 1734), 6 Negroes in addition to 2 negroe women surrendered at the appeal of their original who spared their lives. He in addition to so informed me of the matter. I ordered him to convey them to me, since they were identified every bit rebels. I have got them spot into chains. Three of them were burned at the stake on 3 dissimilar plantations on St. John. I had previously informed the governor piece passing through St. Thomas that should I grab a few of the rebels, I would spot most of them to decease in addition to send him the residuum so that he could create an representative of them. The next solar daytime I informed him of their capture. He sent a jurist who passed judgement for the sake of formality; I sent him the 3 other rebels along with the 2 women in addition to requested that he non have got them executed until I live present. One was burned to decease slowly, some other was sawed inward one-half in addition to the 3rd was impaled. The 2 Negroe women had their hands in addition to heads cutting off after all v had been tortured with hot pincers inward the town.
One calendar week afterwards twenty-five rebels were found dead on an "outjutting indicate of solid reason inward an unsuspected place" identified afterwards every bit nigh Brown Bay. Commander Longueville in addition to his men left St. John a few days afterwards on May 26, 1744 in addition to sailed to St. Thomas.
Unbeknownst to Longueville at the fourth dimension of this departure, silent at large, but hiding inward the bush, was 1 of the leaders of the rebellion in addition to a little grouping of his followers. He was a old Akwamu noble who was named Prince past times his master. Through an intermediary, a bargain was arranged whereby Prince in addition to his supporters would live forgiven in addition to allowed to come upwards dorsum to work. Prince in addition to xiv others surrendered to a Sergeant Øttingen. Prince was summarily shot in addition to killed. His caput was cutting off every bit a trophy in addition to his followers were captured. Subsequently 4 of the followers died inward jail inward St. Thomas, 6 were tortured to decease in addition to 4 were sent to St. Croix to live worked to death.
Sergeant Øttingen was given a vantage in addition to was promoted to Lieutenant for his bravery. The soldiers nether him were also honored in addition to rewarded.
The Danish West Bharat Company reported that their losses inward this rebellion amounted to 7,905 Rigsbankdalers.
source:http://www.stjohnbeachguide.com/Slave%20Rebellion.htm
Little Thatch Cay, Caribbean, US-Virgin-Islands
Saba Bay Parcels - US Virgin Islands, Caribbean
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