The Non-

Hispanic
Nations:
French and
Danes
S HA NES E DAVIS & TER ICA
D R Y S DA L E
The French
• French exploration of the Caribbean began in the late 15th century, following
Christopher Columbus's voyages. French explorers such as Giovanni da Verrazzano and
Jacques Cartier explored the region, claiming territories for France.
• The French established colonies in North America, notably in Quebec (Canada) and
Louisiana (present-day southern United States), where they engaged in fur trading and
established settlements.
• Following in the footsteps of the Dutch and British, French settlers arrived in the
Caribbean in the 1630s and established trading ports on the islands of Saint -Domingue
(later Hispaniola), Martinique, and Guadeloupe. The settlers, with the aid of indentured
servants and later African slaves, cultivated numerous crops that were eventually
exported to France.
The French: Motives
• Philippe Buache was most likely the official cartographer of her royal highness,
the Queen of France. In this capacity, he explored the West Indies with the goal
of creating physical and geographical depictions of the French colonies and
their environs.
• They engaged in conflicts such as the French and Indian War (1754 -1763) in
North America, which was part of the larger Seven Years' War.
• French traders established trading posts and alliances with indigenous peoples
in North America to facilitate the fur trade and expand French influence.
• These trading posts served as economic and strategic centers for French
colonial activities.
French Motives
• As the French empire in North America grew, the French also began to build a
smaller but more profitable empire in the West Indies. Settlement along the South
American coast in what is today French Guiana began in 1624,
• a colony was founded on Saint Kitts in 1625 (the island had to be shared with the
English until the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713, when it was ceded outright).
• The current isle of the Commonwealth of Dominica in the eastern Caribbean also fell under
increasing French settlement from the early 1630s. The Compagnie des Îles de l'Amérique founded
colonies in Guadeloupe and Martinique in 1635
• a colony was later founded on Saint Lucia by (1650)
French Motives

• France's most important Caribbean colonial possession was established in 1664,

when the colony of Saint-Domingue (today's Haiti) was founded on the western
half of the Spanish island of Hispaniola. In the 18th century, Saint-Domingue grew
to be the richest sugar colony in the Caribbean.
• In 1665, King Louis XIV officially recognized the French colonization of Saint -
Domingue, which became known as the Pearl of Antilles in western Hispaniola.
French and British power in the Caribbean soon overcame the previous Spanish
influence, and Spain eventually ceded control of Saint-Domingue to France.
 The French:
Motives
• Expansion of Empire
• Religious mission –
Catholicism
• Exploitation of Natural
resources
• Gold, Silver and Furs

This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-SA.

 Settlements
• Initially, French settlers to
the Caribbean operated small
farms with indentured
servants, but the African
slave trade was introduced to
the islands by the mid-
seventeenth century. Sugar
This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-SA.

and coffee were cultivated

for export.
 French Empire in
the Caribbean
• Establishment of Plantations:
The French established large-
scale plantations for the
cultivation of cash crops such as
sugar, coffee, cocoa, and indigo.
These plantations required
significant labor, leading to the
importation of enslaved Africans
to work the fields.

This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND.

French Empire
in the Caribbean
• SLAVERY: Enslaved Africans
were forcibly brought to the
Caribbean to work on
plantations under brutal and
inhumane conditions.
• Trade and Commerce: France
established trade networks in the
Caribbean to facilitate the
exchange of goods and
resources between the colonies
and the homeland.
This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC.
French Legacy Positive and Negative

• Colonial Government: France established colonial administrations to

govern its Caribbean colonies. These administrations were responsible
for enforcing French laws, collecting taxes, managing plantations, and
maintaining order in the colonies.
• Exploitation of Natural Resources: Apart from sugar, France exploited
the natural resources of the Caribbean, including timber, minerals, and
agricultural products
French Legacy Positive and Negative

• Infrastructure Development: The French built infrastructure such as

roads, ports, and buildings in their Caribbean colonies, which
contributed to economic development and improved transportation and
communication networks.
• Introduction of Agricultural Practices: French colonizers introduced
agricultural practices that transformed the landscape of the Caribbean.
They established plantations for crops like sugar cane, coffee, cotton, and
indigo, which became major exports and contributed to the economic
prosperity of France and its colonies.
French Legacy
Positive and
Negative
• French speaking countries - French
Republic. French Guiana. Guadeloupe.
Martinique. Saint Barthélemy. Saint
Martin. Sovereign state(s) Dominica*
Haiti. Saint Lucia
This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC.
French Legacy
Positive and Negative
• FRENCH DISHES AND PASTRIES
- Dishes such as coq au vin
(chicken cooked in wine),
bouillabaisse (fish stew), escargot
(snails), and beef bourguignon
(beef stewed in red wine)
• such as croissants, baguettes,
éclairs, and tarts,

• sautéing, braising, and

deglazing
French Legacy
Positive and Negative

• French wines and spirits, including

Bordeaux, Champagne, and Cognac

• French cheeses,
The Danish
Caribbean
Who, What,
When, Why,
How?

S HA NES E DAVIS & TER ICA

D R Y S DA L E
 Who were the Danes?
• The Danes arrival in the Caribbean began
in the early 17th century.
• From 1672 to 1917 Denmark named the
islands that they colonized in the
Caribbean the Danish West Indies.
• The Danes who came to the Caribbean
were primarily settlers, traders, and
administrators sent by the Danish
government and the Danish West India
Company.
Image showing the Danish West India Company
 Who were the Danes?
• Notable Danish Explorers and Commanders
• In 1671, Hans Lassen Martens, a Danish
adventurer and naval officer, made an
expedition to the Caribbean. In the process of
mapping and exploring the area, he laid the
foundation for Danish colonization attempts.
• Erasmus Schröter was a military officer from
Denmark who was instrumental in the founding
of the Danish West India Company in 1671. He
had a crucial role in planning and directing
Danish colonization and commerce operations
in the Caribbean.
Image showing Governor-General Peter von Scholten
 Who were the Danes?
• Notable Danish Explorers and Commanders
• Willem Moth: In the late 17th century, Moth served as
the Danish administrator of the Danish West Indies.
• Well-known for his contributions to the growth of the
islands' economy, especially the sugar sector, and for
extending Danish power throughout the area.

Peter von Scholten: In the early 1800s, Scholten served

as the Danish governor-general of the Danish West
Indies.
• He is renowned for having contributed to the 1848
abolition of slavery in the Danish colonies, which made
Denmark one of the first European nations to do so.

Image showing Governor-General Peter von Scholten

 Who were the Danes?
• The Danish colony consisted of the islands St.
Thomas, St. Jan and St. Croix.
• St. Thomas was settled in 1672, followed by
St. John in 1718, and St. Croix in 1733.
• St. Thomas and St. Jan were ideal for sugar
cane farming due to their hilly landscapes,
while St. Croix was flatter and better suited for
sugar production. Denmark-Norway
purchased St. Croix from France in 1733.
• In 1917 the colony was sold to the U.S.
for $25 million in gold coin.

Image showing the Danes settlement in the Caribbean.

 The Motive of the
Danes
Why did they came?
• In the early 17th century, Denmark and
Norway built trading posts and forts on the
Virgin Islands' St. Thomas, St. John, and St.
Croix, marking the beginning of Danish
influence in the Caribbean.
• Danish settlers in the Caribbean were
primarily driven by competitive, strategic,
and economic factors.
• But why did they came? The came to the
Caribbean for many reasons.

Image showing the rebellion on St. Croix

 The Motive of the Danes
Why did they came?
• Economic Gain: As every group of people that came to the
Caribbean region, Danish colonizers too were driven by
economic gains.
• They aim to exploit the profitable triangular trade.
• The Triangular trade is the trade between three ports or
regions. The three regions in this case are
the Caribbean, Europe and Africa
• The Caribbean is a great place to cultivate cash crops like
cotton, sugar, and tobacco because of its tropical climate
and rich soil.
• Danish settlers hoping to earn their fortune in the New
World were drawn to Sugar crops because of their great
demand in Europe and the large profits they might gain
when sold.
 The Motive of the
Danes
Why did they came?
• The Danes exported firearms and other
manufactured goods to Africa in exchange
for slaves.
• These slaves were then transported to the
Caribbean to work the sugar plantations.
• The colonies in the Caribbean, in turn,
exported sugar, rum and molasses to
Denmark.
• Slavery was essential to the Danish West
Indies' economy. Slavery was formally
abolished in 1848 following a rebellion,
which nearly brought the plantations to
financial collapse.
 The Motive of the
Danes
Why did they came?
• Territorial expansion and power.
• The Caribbean, rich in natural resources such
as fertile land, minerals, and forests, was a
strategic location for European powers.
• Caribbean islands served as important
outposts for controlling sea routes, protecting
trade interests, and providing bases for naval
operations and piracy control.
• Denmark's presence in the Caribbean allowed
it to compete with other European powers for
control of key territories and resources during
the Age of Exploration.
• Establishing colonies in the Caribbean was
seen as a way for Denmark to assert its power
and expand its empire .
The Motive of the Danes
Why did they came?
• Territorial expansion and power.
• Colonial possessions were seen as a symbol
of national prestige and power, and acquiring
colonies in the Caribbean allowed Denmark
to enhance its status among European
nations and strengthen its national identity.
• Colonial expansion was often portrayed as a
way to civilize and Christianize indigenous
populations, further legitimizing Denmark's
presence in the region.
 The Motive of the Danes
Why did they came?
• Religious freedom
• The Danes sought religious freedom in the
Caribbean, as Europe was plagued by conflicts and
persecution in the 17th and 18th centuries, while the
Caribbean was more tolerant of diverse beliefs.
• The Caribbean's reputation for religious tolerance
made it a refuge for people of various faiths,
including Lutherans, Catholics, Jews, and others.
• The diverse religious landscape in the Caribbean
included indigenous peoples, Africans, Europeans,
and others, each with their own beliefs and
practices.
 The Motive of the Danes
Why did they came?
• Religious freedom
• The Caribbean offered Danes the opportunity to
express their religious beliefs openly and participate
in religious activities without facing persecution,
particularly attractive to religious minorities.
• Danish settlers often established their own religious
communities, building churches and institutions to
support their faith.
• In some cases, Danish settlers integrated indigenous
religious beliefs into their practices, contributing to
the cultural richness of the Caribbean region.
Process of Migration • The Danes established colonies in three islands in
northern Caribbean now known as the British Virgin
and Colonization. Islands.
Where did they settle? • The Islands that made up the Danish Caribbean
territories included:
 Process of Migration and Colonization.
Where did they settle and why?
• St. Thomas
• Early 17th century, the island's natural
harbour and advantageous location near
important trade routes drew Danish
settlers.
• Using the island as a platform for trade with
Europe, Africa, and the Americas, they
founded a trading station and subsequently
a colony.
• With estates generating sugar, rum, and
other goods for export, St. Thomas
developed into a significant centre for the
slave trade and the sugar business.
Process of Migration
and Colonization.
Where did they settle
and why?
• St. John

• Mostly for agricultural reasons, the Danes

landed on St. John around the beginning of
the eighteenth century.

• The island was ideal for growing sugar,

hence Danish settlers set up plantations to
produce sugar cane.

• Africans who had been brought to the

island as slaves to labor on the plantations
added to the island's economic prosperity.
 Process of Migration and Colonization.
Where did they settle and why?
• St. Croix
• In the seventeenth century, Danes made their way to St.
Croix, where they first established a base for the slave
trade.
• The Danish West India Company however did not create
a formal colony on the island until the 18th century.
• Notable for its expansive sugar plantations and
flourishing sugar industry, St. Croix rose to prominence
as the most significant Danish West Indies.
• Africans in slavery provided a large portion of the
island's labor force for the plantations and sugar mills.
The Legacy of the
Danes
Positive and
Negative Impacts
on the Caribbean
Region
 The Legacy of the Danes
Positive Impacts on the Caribbean Region
• Infrastructure Development:
The Danes constructed roads,
forts, and other infrastructure
that served as the
cornerstone for the
Caribbean's modern growth.
• Example: Fort Christiansværn
in St. Croix, a well-preserved
fortification that is now a
UNESCO World Heritage Site. Image showing Fort Christiansværn in St.
Croix
 The Legacy of the Danes
The negative consequences of the Danes' settlement in the
Caribbean Region
• Enslavement and Forced Labor: The
region was severely damaged by Denmark's
participation in the transatlantic slave trade
and the usage of enslaved Africans on
plantations.

Example: High rates of African enslavement

deaths were caused by the harsh
circumstances on Danish plantations.
 The Legacy of the Danes
The negative consequences of the Danes' settlement in the
Caribbean Region
• Cultural Disruption: Indigenous cultures
and societies in the Caribbean were
uprooted and disrupted by Danish
colonization.
The loss of native languages and customs
as a result of European colonization.
• Social Inequality: Racial and class-based
disparities in society were maintained
under Danish colonial rule.
Under Danish control, enslaved Africans
suffered cruel treatment and were denied
basic rights.
 REFERENCE
• Khan Academy. "French and Dutch Exploration." Accessed [Insert Date Accessed].
https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/us-history/colonial-america/early-english-
settlement/a/french-and-dutch-
exploration#:~:text=After%20Spanish%20control%20of%20the,colonized%20two%2C%20Guade
loupe%20and%20Martinique.
• Historical Society of Pennsylvania. "French West Indies Finding Aid." Accessed [Insert Date
Accessed].
https://hsp.org/sites/default/files/legacy_files/migrated/findingaid219frenchwestindies.pdf

• Khan Academy. "French and Dutch Colonization." Accessed [Insert Date Accessed].
https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/us-history/colonial-america/early-english-
settlement/v/french-and-dutch-colonization
 REFERENCE

• “Commandants and Governors.” 2017. The Danish W est-Indies. December 14.

https://www.virgin-islands-history.org/en/history/colonial-power/commandants-and-
governors/.
• Hansen, Pernille Østergaard. 2015. “Danish ‘Empire Migration’ to the U.S. Virgin Islands.”
Scholarsarchive.
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1198&context=thebridge.
• National Museum of Denmark. 2024. “The Danish West Indies.” National Museum of
Denmark. Accessed March 13. https://en.natmus.dk/historical-knowledge/historical-
themes/danish-colonies/the-danish-west-indies/.