Guam History

History
Guam is an unincorporated and organized territory of the United States in Micronesia in the western Pacific Ocean. The inhabitants of Guam are called Guamanians, and they are American citizens by birth.

The indigenous Chamorros settled the island approximately 4,000 years ago. Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, while in the service of Spain, was the first European to visit the island, on March 6, 1521. Guam was colonized by Spain in 1668 with settlers.

Between the 16th century and the 18th century, Guam was an important stopover for the Spanish Manila Galleons. During the Spanish–American War, the United States captured Guam on June 21, 1898. Under the Treaty of Paris, Spain ceded Guam to the United States on December 10, 1898. Guam is among the seventeen non-self-governing territories listed by the United Nations.

Before World War II, there were five American jurisdictions in the Pacific Ocean: Guam and Wake Island in Micronesia, American Samoa and Hawaii in Polynesia, and the Philippines.

On December 7, 1941, hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Guam was captured by the Japanese, who occupied the island for two and a half years. American forces recaptured the island on July 21, 1944. 

Timeline
1521 - Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, while in the service of Spain, was the first European to visit the island 1668 - Guam was colonized by Spain with settlers 1898 - During the Spanish–American War, the United States captured Guam 1941 - Hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Guam was captured by the Japanese, who occupied the island for two and a half years 1944 - American forces recaptured the island

Links

 * Smithsonian’s History of Guam
 * Brief history of Guam
 * “Guam,” a Google eBook, published 1911