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Naval Government of Guam

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Naval Government of Guam
1898–1950
Motto: E Pluribus Unum
"Out of Many, One"
Anthem: "Hail, Columbia" (until 1931)

"The Star-Spangled Banner"(from 1931)
StatusUnited States military occupation (1898–1899)
Unincorporated, unorganized territory[a] (1899–1941), (1944–1950)
Japanese military occupation (1941–1944)
CapitalAgana
Official languagesEnglish
Common languagesEnglish, Chamorro, Spanish
GovernmentMilitary government
President 
• 1899–1901
William McKinley
• 1901–1909
Theodore Roosevelt
• 1909–1913
William Howard Taft
• 1913–1921
Woodrow Wilson
• 1921–1923
Warren G. Harding
• 1923–1929
Calvin Coolidge
• 1929–1933
Herbert Hoover
• 1933–1945
Franklin D. Roosevelt
• 1945–1950
Harry S. Truman
Naval Governor 
• 1899–1900
Richard Phillips Leary
• 1949–1950
Carlton Skinner
Historical eraModern Era
10 December 1898
1 August 1950
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Captaincy General of the Philippines
Guam

The Naval Government of Guam[1] was a provisional military government and later unincorporated, unorganized territory of the United States that was established during the Spanish–American War in 1898. It was under the administration of the United States Department of the Navy until the territory of Guam was organized in 1950.

History

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On June 21, 1898, the United States captured Guam in a bloodless landing during the Spanish–American War. The island was ceded to the United States by Spain on April 11, 1899, by the Treaty of Paris.

On December 23, 1898, Guam was placed under the administration of the United States Department of the Navy by President William McKinley for military protection and government. Between the American capture of Guam and installation of a Naval Governor in August 1899, there was a flux in governance of the island.[2]

In 1922, the Naval Government banned the Chamorro language in schools and workplaces and destroyed all Chamorro dictionaries.[3]

Between 1941 and 1944, the island was under occupation by Imperial Japanese forces during World War II.

In 1946, the seal of Guam was approved by Naval Governor Charles Alan Pownall. Later on February 9, 1948, the current flag of the territory was adopted.[4]

On August 1, 1950, the Guam Organic Act of 1950 was signed into law by President Harry S. Truman, making Guam an organized territory.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "EXECUTIVE ORDER 10178". Truman Library. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  2. ^ Oberiano, Kristin (6 July 2021). Territorial Discontent: Chamorros, FIlipinos, and the Making of the United States Empire on Guam (PDF) (Doctor of Philosophy in the subject of History thesis). Harvard University. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  3. ^ Skutnabb-Kangas 2000: 206; Mühlhäusler 1996: 109; Benton 1981: 122
  4. ^ "Guam Flag, Nylon (U.S. Territory)". Flag and Banner. Retrieved 12 February 2022.

Notes

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  1. ^ Guam belongs to, but is not a part of, the United States. See the page for the Insular Cases for more information.