Ballot measure in the Danish West Indies
1868 Danish West Indies status referendum|
|
|
Choice
|
Votes
|
%
|
 Yes
|
1,244
|
98.26%
|
 No
|
22
|
1.74%
|
|
A referendum on transferring ownership to the United States was held on 9 January 1868 on the islands of Sankt Jan and Sankt Thomas, two of three main islands in the Danish West Indies.[1] In the referendum, held by universal male suffrage, voters could approve or reject the outcome of negotiations for the sale of the two islands to the United States for US$7.5 million. The third island, Sankt Croix, was to be sold separately to the US at a later date.
The sale was approved by 98.26% of voters. Although it was a binding referendum, the US Senate finally reneged on the agreement in 1870.[1] The Islands were later transferred to the United States after a second referendum in 1916 and the subsequent Treaty of the Danish West Indies.
