| Guam was first discovered and inhabited | | | | ended the war. (Spain later sold the |
| by sea-faring people who came from Asia | | | | Northern Mariana Islands to Germany). |
| (possibly Indonesia or the Philippines), | | | | During World War II, Japanese forces |
| around about 2000 BC. These people, the | | | | invaded the islands and subjected them |
| Chamorros, developed a complex society, | | | | to a brutal 31-month occupation. The |
| and traded with other islands in | | | | islands were eventually recaptured in |
| Micronesia. | | | | the Battle of Guam which took place |
| On March 6th, 1521, the first Europeans | | | | between July 21st and August 10th of |
| arrived: Ferdinand Magellan's ships, on | | | | 1944 |
| their expedition to circumnavigate the | | | | Following World War II, a series of acts |
| globe. The Chamarros natives of the | | | | relaxed the U.S. administration of Guam, |
| islands welcomed the Spanish with food | | | | established the island as an |
| and drink. The Chamarros expected to be | | | | unincorporated organized territory of |
| paid, whereas the Europeans believed | | | | the United States, granted US |
| these supplies to be gifts, so the | | | | citizenship to all persons born on Guam |
| Chamarros stole iron from the decks of | | | | since 1899, allowed a non-voting Guam |
| the Spanish ships. The Spanish | | | | delegate in the US House of |
| retaliated by killing several islanders | | | | Representatives, and allowed the |
| and burning homes. Magellan consequently | | | | islanders to elect their own governor |
| named Guam and the other Mariana | | | | and lieutenant governor. In 1982, Guam |
| Islands, "Las Islas de los Ladrones" | | | | residents overwhelmingly voted for a |
| (The Islands of Thieves). | | | | closer relationship with the United |
| In 1667, Spain claimed the islands and | | | | States as a Commonwealth. However, |
| established a colony there. In 1668, | | | | progress towards implementing the |
| Padre San Vitores, the first Spanish | | | | decision has been slow. |
| missionary, arrived. He renamed the | | | | In recent years, Guam has suffered a |
| islands "Las Marianas" after Mariana of | | | | number of setbacks, including the 1990s |
| Austria, widow of King Philip IV of | | | | Asian economic crisis, and September |
| Spain, and remained on the islands until | | | | 11th attacks, damaging the tourism |
| his murder in 1672. | | | | industry, the 1990s military cutbacks |
| On June 21st, 1898, Guam was captured by | | | | affecting the military-dependant part of |
| US forces during the Spanish-American | | | | the island's economy, and the |
| war, and was ceded to the United States | | | | supertyphoons Paka in 1997, and Pongsona |
| by the subsequent Treaty of Paris which | | | | in 2002. |