ON THIS DAY IN UNITED STATES HISTORY
March 31, 1917
The U.S. Takes Formal Possession of The Danish West Indies
and Renames it the United States Virgin Islands
On this day in 1917, the Danish administration of the Danish West Indies ended and the United States took formal
possession after having purchased the islands for $25 million on January 17. The Danish West Indies are made up of
three islands (St. Thomas, St. John, and Santa Cruz) totalling 185 square miles. The islands had been purchased by
the Danish king, Frederick V of Denmark in 1754.
March 31, 1870
Thomas Mundy Peterson Becomes the First
African-American to Vote in the United States
On this day in 1870, Thomas Mundy Peterson became the first African American to vote in a United States election
under the provisions of the 15th Amendment to the United States Constitution. The vote took place in Perth Amboy,
NJ. Thomas Munday Peterson was a school custodian and was active in the Republican Party. He also is known as the
first African-American in that city to serve on a jury. March 31st is now celebrated in New Jersey as Thomas Mundy
Peterson Day.
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