Territories of the United States

The islands and atolls of American Samoa have been home to Polynesian people for thousands of years. American interest in the beautiful, secluded location started in the late 1800s when the military sought to build a naval base there. American Samoa became an unincorporated territory of the United States in the early 1900s. Since then, American Samoa has been an important center of operations for the U.S. Navy, a dazzling tourist destination, and the birthplace of numerous successful athletes. It is also home to unique indigenous wildlife. Vibrant photographs, primary sources, and a timeline help readers make the most of their trip to American Samoa.

Fourteen islands in the western Pacific Ocean make up the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Settled thousands of years ago and first visited by European explorer Magellan in the 1500s, the islands have been held by the Spanish, German, Japanese, and U.S. governments. They were bases for both Japan and the United States during World War II. This territory's beautiful beaches now draw many tourists to the area. The islands are also known for diverse wildlife, active volcanoes, and regular typhoons. This informative guide will transport readers to these captivating islands through full-color photographs, primary sources, and a timeline.

The U.S. Virgin Islands is a territory made up of three large islands and nearly 50 islets. Its tropical climate and beautiful beaches attract people from all over the world. Since Columbus landed on one of the islands in 1493, the area has had a stormy history. The islands were controlled by several European countries until Denmark made them colonies in the 1700s. These Danish colonies dominated the sugarcane industry and were a major part of the slave trade before slavery was abolished. The region became an unincorporated territory of the United States in 1917. Fascinating facts and colorful, scenic photographs will introduce readers to the U.S. Virgin Islands, past and present.

The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico has been a U.S. territory since the end of the Spanish-American War in 1898. The beautiful, largely mountainous island is home to the only tropical rain forest in the United States. It was originally inhabited by the indigenous Taino people before Spain colonized it in 1493. Today, it's a popular tourist destination, although extensive damage from Hurricane Maria in 2017 and earthquakes in 2019 and 2020 have taken a toll. Readers will learn about the history of Puerto Rico. Colorful photographs, primary sources, and a timeline help readers make the most of their trip to this U.S. commonwealth.

Guam, in the North Pacific Ocean, is more than 5,000 miles (8,000 km) west of San Francisco. This island has a fascinating past that goes back thousands of years, long before it was colonized by the Spanish in the 1600s. Readers will learn about Guam's history and how it became a U.S. territory in this absorbing look at the largest and most southern of the Mariana Islands. Readers will also discover a lot about the territory's natural resources, government, culture, and more. Stunning photographs, primary sources, fact boxes, biographies, and a timeline contribute to the engaging format.