U.S .Virgin Islands - Research Paper Example

The United States Virgin Islands are a group of islands situated in the Caribbean and are part of the United States. The main islands of the U.S Virgin Islands are the Saint Croix, Saint John and Saint Thomas. Additionally, there is also a historically Water Island, though it is much smaller, surrounded by many other minor islands. According to the 2000 Census, the population was about 108,612, which mostly consisted of individuals of Afro-Caribbean descent. The primary economic activity is tourism, even though the manufacturing sector is also huge.

Originally, the U.S Virgin Islands were occupied by Ciboney, Carib and Arawaks. The islands were given their respective names by Christopher Columbus together with her virgin followers on their second trip to Saint Ursula in 1493. Many years thereafter, the islands were controlled by several European countries such as Spain, United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France as well as Denmark-Norway. In 1672, the Danish West India Company occupied Saint Thomas. The following year, it occupied Saint John, ultimately purchasing Saint Croix in 1733 from France.

It is imperative to note that the U.S. Virgin Islands were formerly referred to as Danish West Indies. However, in 1916, Denmark sold the Islands to the United States under the Danish West Indies Treaty. Consequently, on March 31, 1917, the Virgin Islands were formerly possessed by the United States and were thereafter renamed the United States Virgin Islands. All the inhabitants of the Islands are given the U.S Citizenship. Types of Businesses or Industries The economy of the islands strongly depends on the U.

S mainland. The primary economic activity is Tourism hosting about 2 million visitors. Furthermore, the sale of duty-free products to visitors from the U.S mainland also substitutes the earnings from the Tourism sector. However, there also exist a significant number of manufacturing companies in the islands, such as the petroleum refining industry, textiles, rum distilling, electronics, pharmaceuticals as well as watch assembly. St Croix has the largest petroleum refineries in the world. Additionally, rum is a major product, and earns money from the refunds of U.

S excise duty at the rate of about U.S$ 40m per year (West p.753). International businesses and financial services are on the verge of growing in the Islands. Government Type The United States Virgin Islands are under the territory of the United States. Although the population of the United States Virgin Islands is citizens of the U.S., they cannot take part in the presidential elections. However, they are allowed to take part in the presidential primary elections for the delegates to both the Democratic National Convention and the Republican National Convention.

The law that disallows the United States Virgin Islands residents has received outcries from the elites, who claim that they are denied two of the most powerful rights that citizens of a democratic country ought to have; these are the ability to vote and choose their legislators (Todd). Nationally, the U.S Virgin Islands vote and elect a delegate to congress. However, the elected delegate cannot take part in floor votes but can vote in the committee. Virgin Islands People People from the Virgin Islands are known as Virgin Islanders, while those residing at respective islands are called St.

Thomain, St. Johnian and St. Crucian as well as Water Islanders. During the early 1600s and mid 1800, the U.S Virgin Island population was majorly drawn from the European and African descent. White settlers, mainly from Holland, England, Denmark, Ireland and France, came to operate plantations, run shops and ware houses. African slaves outnumbered the European whites. These were slaves brought to work in the sugar plantations by the Caribbean. English is the official language in the U. S. Virgin Islands.

However, a language known as Virgin