On March 31, 1917, the United States formally took possession of the Danish West Indies, renaming them the Virgin Islands of the United States. The U.S. had purchased the islands from Denmark. The acquisition was partly motivated by strategic concerns during World War I. The islands provided a useful naval and shipping position in the Caribbean. Over time, residents gained U.S. citizenship and local self-government structures. The transfer added another territory to the broader U.S. family of states and possessions.
