What was the justification for the U.S. acquisition of the Virgin Islands?

to push Spain out of the Western Hemisphere

to prevent Germany from gaining a submarine base

to allow U.S. ships to refuel on their way across the Pacific

to provide U.S. businesses with a stable political climate

Question

What was the justification for the U.S. acquisition of the Virgin Islands?

 to push Spain out of the Western Hemisphere

 to prevent Germany from gaining a submarine base

 to allow U.S. ships to refuel on their way across the Pacific

 to provide U.S. businesses with a stable political climate

anonymous · Answer

The US had always wanted to control the Virgin Islands; however the Dutch were reluctant to sell.   During the submarine warfare of the First World War, the United States, fearied that the islands might be seized by Germany as a submarine base, and approached Denmark about buying them. After a few months of negotiations, a selling price of $25 million in United States gold coin was agreed (this is equivalent to $580 million in 2013 dollars).

anonymous · Answer

B to prevent Germany from gaining a submarine base