Podcast Summary
Alexander Hamilton's formative years in the US Virgin Islands: Alexander Hamilton, a founding father of the US, spent his childhood in the US Virgin Islands, which were part of the Danish West Indies at the time.
The US Virgin Islands, specifically the island of Saint Croix, played a significant role in the life of Alexander Hamilton, who spent his formative years there before becoming a founding father of the United States. However, during Hamilton's time, the US Virgin Islands were not part of the United States but were instead part of the Danish West Indies within the Kingdom of Denmark. Hamilton, who was born outside of the British colonies, was an immigrant who benefited from the support of his employers and was sent to the mainland for an education. The US Virgin Islands, which are about 1100 miles off the coast of Miami, were originally inhabited by indigenous groups and experienced war, fighting, and enslavement. The islands, which include Saint Croix, Saint Thomas, and Saint John, as well as about 50 smaller uninhabited islands, have a rich history that predates their status as a territory of the United States.
Affordable solutions for daily life and travel: Blue Nile offers discounts on jewelry and watches, Quince provides affordable travel essentials, Sleep Number ensures individualized comfort, and historic Saint Croix marked the start of European colonies and trade routes.
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Significant Role of US Virgin Islands in Atlantic Slave Trade: The US Virgin Islands, which were Danish colonies, had a large enslaved African population and economy driven by sugar production and the slave trade, despite Denmark's attempts to end it. The islands were sold to the US in 1917 during World War 1.
The US Virgin Islands, which were Danish colonies from the early 1700s until 1917, had a significant role in the Atlantic slave trade. During this time, the enslavement of Africans outnumbered Danish settlers by a large margin. The islands' economy was largely driven by sugar production and the slave trade. Despite Denmark's plans to end the slave trade in the late 1700s, it continued for several decades. The islands' economic boom began to fade by the early 1800s due to the abolition of the slave trade and the cultivation of sugar beets. The US attempted to purchase the islands several times, but it wasn't until 1917, during World War 1, that Denmark sold the US Virgin Islands to the United States for a significant sum of money. This history is important to remember as we acknowledge the significant role that the Atlantic slave trade played in shaping the economic and demographic landscape of the Caribbean and the Americas.
Leveraging Professional Networks, Innovative Deodorant Solutions, and Understanding Complexities: LinkedIn offers access to potential candidates, Lume's deodorant provides long-lasting odor control, OneSkin targets cellular aging, USVI gained citizenship but not full voting rights
LinkedIn is a valuable resource for hiring professionals, with over 70% of users not visiting other leading job sites. Meanwhile, Lume whole body deodorant offers impressive 72-hour odor control, powered by mandelic acid and free of heavy perfumes. For Mother's Day, consider treating yourself or a caregiver to OneSkin's anti-aging products, which feature a proprietary peptide proven to combat aging cells. Lastly, the US Virgin Islands (USVI) gained US citizenship in 1927 but did not receive full voting rights until the Organic Act was revised in the 1950s, allowing for greater self-governance. In the case of LinkedIn, not utilizing this platform for hiring could mean missing out on potential candidates like Sandra. Lume's innovative deodorant solution, inspired by patients' concerns, provides long-lasting odor control without relying on heavy perfumes. OneSkin's focus on cellular aging offers a unique approach to maintaining youthful-looking skin, with their proprietary peptide proven to combat aging cells. Lastly, the history of USVI's citizenship and self-governance highlights the complexities of territorial status and voting rights. These key takeaways demonstrate the importance of leveraging professional networks, innovative deodorant solutions, and understanding the intricacies of territorial status and voting rights.
USVI Gained Autonomy but Limited Presidential Voting Rights: The USVI, though self-governing, can't vote for president while living there, but their economy thrives on tourism with over 100,000 monthly visitors.
The U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) gained significant autonomy in the 1970s, including electing their own governor and creating a constitution. However, they only have one delegate to Congress, who can only advise and not vote on bills. This means that USVI citizens cannot vote in presidential elections if they reside on the islands, but can if they move to the U.S. mainland. Tourism became the primary economic sector in the 1970s and 80s, with over 100,000 visitors arriving monthly. A key difference between the USVI and U.S. states is that USVI citizens cannot vote for president while living there, but can when they move to the mainland. Despite this limitation, the USVI's economy heavily relies on tourism, with over 100,000 visitors arriving every month. A fun fact about the USVI is that Bay Rum, a popular fragrance, originated from the islands in the 1830s when a Danish chemist became interested in the medicinal and beauty uses of bay leaves grown locally.
Historic bay rum production and Jewish community in the USVI: From the early 1900s to prohibition era, bay rum production in the USVI was a significant export, using over 1,000 gallons of bay leaf oil for 35,000 gallons of bay rum. The USVI also has a rich Jewish history, with the second oldest synagogue in the Western Hemisphere still in operation.
The Virgin Islands' bay rum production, which involved blending bay leaf oils with Caribbean rums, became a significant export in the early 1900s. At its peak, over 1,000 gallons of bay leaf oil were used to produce approximately 35,000 gallons of bay rum. However, during prohibition in the 1920s, production hit a record high of 100,000 gallons a year as manufacturers found ways around the rules by marketing it as a health tonic with added aspirin or by shipping it illegally. Additionally, the USVI has a rich history with a significant Jewish community, dating back to the 1650s. The synagogue in St. Thomas, built in 1833, is the second oldest in the Western Hemisphere and still operates with a sand floor and stone walls held together by lime, sand, and molasses.
Discovering the US Virgin Islands' Rich History and Natural Wonders: The US Virgin Islands, acquired from Denmark for $600 million, offer unique attractions like Sephardic synagogues and bioluminescent plankton blooms, as well as a connection to American history through founding father Hamilton.
The US Virgin Islands, specifically Saint Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix, are popular tourist destinations with rich histories and unique attractions. The US acquired the islands from Denmark during World War 1 for $600,000,000 to prevent German use as a submarine base. The islands are known for their traditional Sephardic synagogues with sand floors and unique bioluminescent plankton blooms, creating a breathtaking natural light show. Visitors can explore these attractions and more, with Saint Croix's Salt River Bay offering night tours to witness the bioluminescence. Hamilton, a founding father of the US, was born on the islands. If you're intrigued, consider visiting and experiencing the US Virgin Islands' history, culture, and natural wonders for yourself. Don't forget to share this episode or leave a review to support independent podcasts.
