How a violent history created the US Virgin Islands as we know them

Hurricane Irma is just the latest tragedy to visit the US Virgin Islands: St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John and a host of smaller islands. The Caribbean lands are frequently pummeled by hurricanes. Hugo in 1989 and Marilyn in 1995 were harsh, recent examples. But they have also suffered a remarkable number of man-made tragedies. The…