USA in the Pacific - Guam

Guam and the Philippines are two territories in the Pacific acquired by the USA, after Spain lost a war with us in 1898.  The Philippines have since gained independence, but Guam is still a US territory, with US citizens.  Guam home to 170,000 people, a sizable Air force base, Navy base and, in 2012, Marine base.  The map to the right highlight Guam strategic position in the pacific.

In the aftermath of WWII, the entire area pacific came under allied military control. The American, the British, the Australian, and the New Zealander "administer" law in most of these pacific island as trustees for a then "League of Nations".   The geographic area of the US controlled "Mandates" was roughly the size of the USA.  

Much has changed in 60 years in the US controlled Mandates..  The land size, population and status of all the these islands is as follows:

• Guam, one of five U.S. territories with established civilian government.  The Guam Organic Act of 1950 granted the people of Guam US citizenship and provided for the structure of Guam's civilian government.  Guam is the largest and southernmost of the Mariana Islands.  Located 1,500 south of Tokyo; 3,300 miles from Sidney; 2,000 east and south of Hong Kong; 3,000 east of Singapore;  4,000 mile east of Hawaii.  209 sq mi of land, 173k people (2007)

• Federated States of Micronesia is a 4 states federation with a Compact of Free Association with the USA.  271 sq mi of land, 108k people (2007)

• Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands is a commonwealth in political union with the United States.  Capital is Saipan.179 sq mi of land; 85k people (2007)

• Republic of the Marshall Islands 70 square miles, 62k people (2005)

• Republic of Palau   is an independent county that concluded a Compact of Free Association with the U.S. in 1994.   177 sq mi of land.  21k people  (2007)

APPENDIX - Historical Maps - Trust Territories of the Pacific