|
1521, March 6 |
Magellan discovers Mariana Islands |
|
1564 |
Spain claims sovereignty over Mariana Islands |
|
1681 |
All
Chamorros taking oath of allegiance become full subjects of Spain |
|
1688 |
Beginning of rule of Mariana Islands by Spanish governors reporting to
Mexico |
| 1690s |
Spanish
conquest of Mariana Islands completed; Chamorros from the Northern
Marianas, except for a few hiding in Rota, are forcibly relocated
to Guam
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|
| 1787 |
United
States enacts Ordinance for the Government of the Territory of the
United States northwest of the River Ohio (the Northwest
Ordinance) |
| 1800s |
Chamorros
are allowed to return to the Northern Mariana Islands from Guam |
| 1815 |
Spain
establishes colonies of Caroline Islanders and Guamanian Chamorros
on Saipan. Saipan is governed by Chamorro alcalde
representing Spanish governor of Guam |
|
1817 |
Spain transfers rule of Mariana Islands from Viceroy of
Mexico to the Captain General of the Philippines
|
| 1875 |
Title
of principal native official on Saipan changed from alcalde
to gobernadorcillo; official still reports to Spanish
governor on Guam |
|
1898 |
Guam is captured by the United States in the Spanish-American
War |
| 1898,
July 7 |
U.S.
Congress approves annexation of Republic of Hawaii |
| 1898,
August 12 |
United
States assumes sovereignty over Hawaii |
| 1898,
December 10 |
Under
Treaty of Paris, Spain cedes Guam, the Philippine Islands, and
Puerto Rico to United States |
|
1899 |
Spain sells the Northern Mariana Islands and the Caroline
Islands to Germany |
|
1899-1914 |
Germany administers the Northern Mariana Islands as part of its
New Guinea protectorate
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| 1900,
February 16 |
United
States ratifies Treaty of Berlin, under which United Kingdom and
Germany recognize Eastern Samoa as a U.S. possession and Western
Samoa as a German possession |
| 1900,
April 12 |
U.S.
Congress enacts Foraker Act, establishing civil government in Puerto
Rico and providing for a nonvoting Resident Commissioner to
represent Puerto Rico in the U.S. House of Representatives |
| 1900,
April 17 |
Samoan
chiefs cede Tuituila and Aunu'u to the United States |
| 1901 |
U.S.
Supreme Court addresses the applicability of the U.S. Constitution
in the areas acquired as result of Spanish American War in the
first of the Insular Cases; the Insular Cases establish
doctrine that not all constitutional rights, but only fundamental
constitutional rights, are enjoyed by inhabitants of U.S. territories that are
not 'incorporated' into the United States |
| 1904,
July 16 |
Samoan
king and chiefs cede Manu'a group to the United States
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|
|
1914, August 23 |
Japan declares war on Germany |
| 1914,
October 14 |
Japanese
Expeditionary Squadron occupies Saipan without resistance; other
islands of German Micronesia are also occupied during October 1914 |
| 1914,
December 14 |
Japan
promulgates ordinances for the South Seas Temporary Defense Corps |
| 1914,
December 28 |
Japan
transfers military rule of Micronesia from Expeditionary Squadron to Provisional
Naval Garrison; Saipan is made one of six administrative districts
reporting to headquarters in Chuuk (Truk) |
| 1916,
Septermber 7 |
U.S.
Senate ratifies purchase of former Danish Virgin Islands
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|
| 1918,
July 1 |
Japan
establishes a Civil Administration Department under the Naval
Garrison commander in each of the six administrative districts of
Micronesia |
| 1918,
November 11 |
Germany
signs Armistice Agreement, ending First World War |
| 1919,
May |
Supreme Council of Allied Powers agrees
to give Japan a League of Nations mandate over Micronesia |
| 1920,
November |
U.S.
President Woodrow Wilson announces United States will not recognize
Japanese mandate in Micronesia |
|
1920, December 17 |
Japan is assigned League of Nations Class C mandate to govern the
Northern Mariana Islands (and the Caroline and Marshall Islands)
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| 1921,
July |
Japan
transfers headquarters of Civil Administration Department in
Micronesia from Chuuk
to Koror, Palau |
| 1922,
February 11 |
Treaty
between United States and Japan: United States recognizes Japan's
mandate in Micronesia; Japan grants United States certain cable
landing rights in Yap |
| 1922,
March |
Japan
establishes civilian South Seas Government, headquartered in Koror,
Palau; the governor of Micronesia reports directly to Japan's prime
minister |
| 1929 |
Japan
establishes Ministry of Colonial Affairs, to which governor of
Micronesia now reports |
| 1929,
October 28 |
Black
Friday stock market crash in United States begins worldwide Great
Depression |
