Northern Mariana Islands and Guam History

Guam History A Review of the Islands Unique History VincentAnthony V. Borja side 135 Professor Rosemary Harty April 21, 2011 Over the past 10 years, ergodic peck would ask me nigh the history of Guam, and how it became a joined States territory. Grew up close to of my life on Guam, but never re whollyy cargond about its history, although, e rattling year we would keep back its liberation day from the Japanese and celebrate festive holidays signifi sackt to the islands history, I never really understood why we famous it. The Spanish Era, the American Period, & the Japanese occupation compete a major specify on the island and its refining today.The island of Guam, Guahan in indigenous Chamorro, is a actually multi-ethnic community that reflects the burnishs of its original Chamorro inhabitants as proto(prenominal) as 2,000 B. C. , influenced by countless European, American, Asian, Micronesian, and early(a) people who deplete occupied, visited and immigrated to Guam s ince the sixteenth Century. Many question the disc overy by the Spaniards, the occupation of the Americans and the Japanese that wrought the islands history that makes its culture very fascinating. under(a)standing the islands struggles that have eliminate to the American status that it flattually became after umpteen centuries of fighting.Guam of today is truly a mixed community with a distinctive culture, the foundation of which is past Chamorro heavily influenced by the Spanish occupation and the Catholic Church. Strong American influence is also homely in the celebration of many an(prenominal) human beings holidays, the form of Government and the pride in being U. S. that is displayed by the natives. Guams culture has also been influenced and enriched by the Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Chinese and Micronesian immigrants each group of who have added their unique contributions.According to the 2000 Census of Population and Housing the present creation of Guam, is close to 154,805 whom roughly 37% are Chamorro, 26% Filipino, 11% other pacific Islander with the re chief(prenominal)ing 26% primarily Caucasian, Chinese, Korean and Japanese, all of whom carry their cultural heritage and customs and contribute to Guams unique culture and appeal. (U. S. Department of Commerce, 2004) SPANISH ERA According to the journals of Antonio Pigafetta, whom was an Italian scholar and traveller form the re mankind of Venice.Pigafetta travelled with Portuguese venturer Ferdinand Magellan and recorded most of Magellans travels. Ferdinand Magellan on March 6, 1521, first discovered the island. (Pigafetta, 1995, p. 18) During his s travel by on the island, the natives canoed out to the posts and stole everything that was not secured or tied down. The weakened sailors had affect fending gain the tall and robust natives until a few shots from theTrinidads speculative gasolenes frightened them off the ship and they retreated into the surrounding jungle. The purpos e of Magellans visit was to restock on supp guiles and find food.After Magellans travel throughout the Marianas, it was primarily his get laid on Guam that the Marianas was happen upond Li Ladroni, the island of thieves. (Suarez, 1999, p. 133) Although Magellan was considered the first European explorer to step foot on Guams beaches, it was known that Guam and the other Mariana islands were formally claimed by the Spanish Crown in 1565 by General Miguel Lopez de Legazpi for Spain. big dividing lineman Phillip II of Spain wanted switch to begin with the Phillipine islands, islands call downd after him. Legazpi was sent across the pacific from Mexico, which was a colony of Spain in 1564.During Legazpis sail across the pacific, King Phillip ordered him to take possession of all land and any island encountered. Additionally, he wanted Legazpi to find a route between Mexico and the Philllipines that would go through the pacific. Legazpi and his fleet reached Guam on January 22, 15 65 and docked his ships for four days. After days of waiting, they finally went on shore on January 26, 1565 to claim Guam and posted the Spain flag. (Cunningham Beaty, 2001) Legazpi and his men stayed on Guam for xi days.During this visit, Legazpi was so afraid of upsetting the Chamorros that he ordered all crew members not to go on shore without his permission. The Chamorros were untold friendlier, canoeing out to greet the voyagers with food and supplies, a much different experience the Spanish explorers had remembered during their last Guam visit. Clever and sly, the Chamorros were always trying to trade rice for nails. Frequently the natives would fool the voyagers by placing rice in the top of the bag and filling the bottom with rocks and straw.When the men went ashore to fill the kegs with water, an disturbance took specify, and one of Legazpis men was killed. Legazpi was upset and ordered a light speed men to go to the island and punish the Chamorros. The result was th ree Chamorros hung and killed and many ho aims and canoes burned. Following the incident Legazpi declared anchors to be lifted and the Spaniards journeyed for the Philllipines. (Rogers, 1995, p. 14) Catholocism was the first religion introduced on the island during the 1600s.The major influence and main support came from one of the main leaders on the island during that time. honcho Quipuha was the magalahi or highest-ranking male, in the area of Hagatna when the Spanish landed off its shores in 1668. On June 15, 1668 missionaries led by Spanish Jesuit Padre Diego Luis de San Vitores of Burgos, of Spain, whom landed off the shores of Hagatna. They were greeted and welcomed by Chief Quipuha, the name Ke puha or Quipuha means, to uphold. Chief Quipuha was so welcoming to these missionaries he even offered a plot of land in Hagatna for the mission. Political Status educational activity Coordinating Commission, 1995) It was on this offered land where the first Catholic Church in Guam was built and Catholicism was introduced. Chief Quipuha died in 1669, but his legacy left field a tremendous impact that allowed the Spanish to continue its legacy for the manilla paper Galleon trade, which was the exchange of goods between Asia and Mexico. (Naval Station Guam) About a century later, In April of 1672, Padre Diego Luis de San Vitores and his Filipino assistant were killed by Chief Mata pang of Tumon for baptizing the Chiefs baby girl without the Chiefs consent. (Rogers, 1995, p. 5) It is theorized, that Mata pang whitethorn have acted out of frustration from being compelled to the harsh rule of a foreign Spanish king. Whereas San Vitores tried to carry out his mission in a peaceful manner, the Spanish military ruthlessly governed the fieldal anaesthetic humankind to protect their Galleon routes. Regardless of Mata pangs motives, the death of San Vitores lead to an all-out war that closely resulted in extinction of the Chamorro race. Sources have estimated Chamo rro casualties to the fighting and disease reduced the population from 200,000 to roughly 5,000 by 1741, mostly women and children.The Spaniards imported Spanish soldiers and Filipinos to restock the population, marking the end of the pure Chamorro bloodline. (Rogers, 1995, pp. 41-57) After 1695, Chamorros were laboured to settle in five colonizations Hagatna, Agat, Umatac, Pago, and Fena, were monitored by the priests and military garrison, forced to figure Church daily and to learn Spanish language and customs. In 1740, Chamorros of the Northern Marianas Islands, except Rota, were removed from their home islands and exiled to Guam.Mata pang himself was killed in a final battle on the island of Rota in 1680. Having been vilified for the incident that sparked the decimation of the pure Chamorro race, the name Mata pang has evolved to mean silly. (Donald L. Platt, 2009) During the 18th century, the English pirates who visited Guam to take on supplies and sustenance preyed upon t he Spanish galleons. Guam was a host to a number of scientists, voyagers, and whalers from Russia, France, and England some of whom provided little accounts of the daily life on Guam under Spanish rule.Evidence of Spanish come onings, bridges, churches and forts can still be seen across the island, especially in the southern areas of the island. Spanish cannon still overlooks Hagatna and Umatac bays from Forts Agueda and Soledad, the Plaza de Espana, once the Spanish Governors Palace, still stands in fundamental Hagatna, and sunken Spanish galleons still lie under Guams crystal clear waters. The architecture and design of structures build long after the Spanish era, such as the bridge in Umatac, which still has distinct Spanish quality. (Donald L.Platt, 2009) AMERICAN PERIOD During the Spanish-American war Guam was ceded to the United States by the Treaty of Paris, which ended the Spanish American war in 1898 and Guam was formally purchased from Spain for $20 million in 1899. At the time of the turnover, the local population of Guam had grown to about 10,000 inhabitants. U. S. President William McKinley issued an executive order placing Guam inwardly the administration of the Department of the Navy. Captain R. P. Leary was appointed the islands first U. S. Governor. (Rogers, 1995, p. 14) nether Navy administration, Guam experienced many improvements in the areas of agriculture, public health, sanitation, education, land management, taxes, and public subject fields. Orders issued by Captain Leary on August 16, 1899, regulated the importation and cut-rate sale of intoxicating liquors regulated the celebration of church and other holidays prohibited the pitch of land without the consent of the government prohibited concubine and required that wedding party be performed between persons that were cohabiting prohibited exportation of certain articles in putting surface use among he people required persons without a trade or regular employment to pant specifi ed commodities and keep certain get laid stock regulated the keeping of dogs and other animals running at big(a) abrogated the Spanish system of taxation and provided a new one established a public system of nonsectarian education and required each adult to learn to write his or her own name within a specified time. (Rogers, 1995, p. 119) In 1927, the people of Guam, including schoolchildren who donated a penny each, pile up $703. 92 to have a ships bell and a commemorative plaque manufactured in Shanghai, China.The bell was presented to the Navy and has served distinctively on each of the three USS Guam Naval watercrafts. (Palomo, 1999)The U. S. Navy continued to use Guam as a refueling and communication station until 1941, when it fell to attack Japanese forces shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The bell, on with a commemorative bronze plaque, has been returned to Guam after the decommissioning of the USS Guam, an amphibious assault ship (LPH-9), on August 25, 1998 a t the Norfolk, Virginia, Naval Base. The USS Guam is the third Navy vessel named after Guam. (Palomo, 1999)JAPANESE OCCUPATION On December 10, 1941, Guam surrendered to the Japanese South Seas separation after a valiant defensive struggle by the islands Insular Force Guard and a limited number of U. S. Marines. Guam became the notwithstanding populated U. S. demesne to be occupied by another rude in World War II. Guam was renamed Omiya Jima and for 31 months, the people of Guam were forcibly subjected to impossible hardships administered by the Japanese military. Although some measure of religious practice and business activities were permitted, atrocities, grenade slaughters and rapes were common.The 29th Division of Japans Kwantung Army established intentness camps and approximately 600 Chamorros were executed. (Rogers, 1995, pp. 163-181) Some Chamorros were beheaded when the Japanese acquire of the 3-year humanitarian effort by Chamorros to successfully feed and cut throu gh U. S. Navy radioman George Tweed, who escaped in the initial invasion. Tweeds counteract is a popular boonie stomping destination on Guam today. (Babuata, 2009) Many landmarks of the Japanese occupation, including gun emplacements and tunnels can still be seen around the island of Guam. LIBERATION AND U. S. TERRITORIAL STATUSRecord tonnage duty of naval bombardment in which thousands of Japanese and Chamorros marked the thrust for the liberation of Guam missed their lives and the city of Hagatna was nearly destroyed. American forces landed on July 21, 1944 at Asan and Agat beaches. In honor of the bravery and sacrifices of all those who participated in the Pacific Theater of World War II, including soldiers, sailors and marines of the United States, Japan, Australia, Canada, China, France, Great Britain, New Zealand, the Netherlands, and the Soviet Union, the landing area has been designated as the War in the Pacific home(a) Historic Park. During the following bitter three week campaign, 7,000 U. S. and 11,000 Japanese lives were lost before Guam was reclaimed and once again under American administration. (Aguon, 2009) Today, July 21st, Guam venting Day, is a major Guam holiday. All government offices and most businesses are disagreeable as the island celebrates with daylong fiestas and a parade down Marine army corps drive in Hagatna. Because of its strategic position, Guam was used as a rule post for U. S. Western Pacific operations until the War came to an end in 1945. On May 30, 1946, the U. S. Naval Government was re-established.Although concluded over 50 years ago, World War II still exerts a major influence on Guam. Relics and evidence of the War are still evident all across the island and divers can survey wrecks of Japanese, American, German and other ships and airplanes under Guams warm clear waters. On January 24, 1972, the last Japanese World War II holdout, Sergeant Shoichi Yokoi, was discovered in the weaken in which he had been hid ing since his unit was scattered by the pass on Americans in July 1944. Sergeant Yokois cave at Talofofo falls has been keep as a popular attraction for visitors. (Aguon, 2009) As the Westernmost U.S. soil in the Pacific, Guam today remains a strategic outpost for the U. S. military. In 1949, U. S. President Harry S. Truman signed the Organic Act making Guam an unorganised territory of the United States with limited self-governing authority and granting American citizenship to the people of Guam. In 1962, security clearance requirement for travel to Guam, which had been in place since World War II, were lifted permitting Guams economy to flourish and enterprisingness an influx of new residents of divers(prenominal) nationalities and races such as Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Indian, Pacific Islanders nd Caucasian. (Rogers, 1995) CULTURE The core of Guam culture, the Chamorro, is characterized by a complex social communications protocol centered upon find, caring, accep ting and helping one another. Inafamaolek, or interdependence, is a central value in Chamorro culture that depends on a spirit of cooperation. historiographer Lawrence Cunningham in 1992 wrote, In a Chamorro sense, the land and its produce belong to everyone. This is the armature, or core, that everything in Chamorro culture revolves around. It is a powerful concern for mutuality quite an than individualism and private property rights. The culture is visibly manifested in the kiss of the touchs of elders, passing of legends, music, dance, chants, courtship rituals, handicrafts, burial rituals, preparation of herbal medicines, and requesting amnesty from spiritual ancestors when entering a jungle. Glimpses of Guam culture are evident in local legends and folklore such as the taotaomona (ancient spirits), doomed lovers leaping to their death off Two Lovers Point (Puntan Dos Amentes), and Sirena, a scenic young girl who became a mermaid. Guam edict and Culture end up Report, 20 10) The Spanish occupation was based on conquest and conversion to save the gentile souls, implemented by force, which nearly resulted in the total extermination of the pure Chamorro race. However, the Spanish failed to recognize that the Chamorro culture was matrilineal and largely ignored the influence of the Chamorro women, which likely accounts for the fact that the Chamorro culture has endured to this day. The greatest influence of the Spanish over Guams culture was through the Catholic Church, which has, since the 17th century, been the center of village activity.Today, every village has its patron saint whose feast day is celebrated with an elaborate fiesta, to which the entire island is invited. These fiestas, whereupon by duty, extended families contribute food and work to cook for the village guests remain a key attribute of the culture of Guam till this day. Chamorro society emphasizes respect for the elderly. The practice ofmanngingi (to smell) entails sniffing the righ t hand of an elderly person to express ones deep regard. Before colonial rule, Chamorros recognized the power and authority of clan elders.Informal positions of authority were granted to elders who commanded the respect of their clan members. Elders could pool the labor and material resources of their clans in times of need. (Guam Society and Culture Complete Report, 2010) Today thousands of tourist visit the island to experience a blend of Spanish, Micronesian, Asian and western influences that have inhabited Guam for the past ccc years. The experience of the islands history and living traditions when you visit historic sites or by sampling some of the islands delicious food.In conclusion, because Guam is the because island in the pacific, and a strategic point in the pacific, it is a valuable territory that volition always be secured by America and very much hold deard. Although, the natives appreciate the Americas presence and Guams current political status on the island, they are still fighting for a lot of the original land to be returned to original landowners. The natives endured many struggles from Spain and Japan in order for the island to be what it is today.The diverse influence that started from the Spanish era, the Japanese occupation, and then the liberation from the Americans is what makes the Chamorro culture very unique. The new generation is fighting to preserve what is left of the islands history, and many organizations are working to promote the culture through song and music. References Aguon, Katherine, PhD and Palomo, Tony. WWII From trading to Liberation, referenced April 12, 2011, 2009 Guampedia, URL http//guampedia. com/wwii-from-occupation-to-liberation/ Babauta, Leo. George Tweed, referenced April 11, 2011, 2009 Guampedia, URL http//guampedia. om/george-tweed/ Ballendorf, Dirk & Foster, Sophie. Guam. (2011). In Encyclop? dia Britannica. Retrieved from http//www. britannica. com/EBchecked/topic/247691/Guam Coomans, Fr. Peter. ( 1997). History of the Mission in the Mariana Islands 1667 1673. Occasional Historical Papers serial publication No. 4. Translated and edited by Rodrigue Levesque. Saipan, CMDivision of Historic conservation Cunningham, Lawrence J. Beaty, Janice J. 2001 A History of Guam. Hagatna, GU Bess Press Guam Society and Culture Complete Report. World Trade Press Date Published 2010 LC Call subroutine DU647 ISBN 9781607804727 Naval Station Guam.Chief Quipuha (Ke puha) Statue. Retrieved April 09,2011 from http//ns. gov. gu/quipua. html Palomo, Antonio. The Guam Bell. Referenced April 14, 2011. 1999 Guam. org, URL http//guam. org. gu/guambell/ Rogers, Robert F. (1995). Destinys Landfall A History of Guam. Honolulu, HI University of Hawaii Press. Under the Organic Act 1950-1970 224-232 Smith, J. (2004). Martin Luther. In L. McDonald (ed. ), Encyclopedia of science and religion. Babson Press. Retrieved November 20, 2003, from http//www. scireligion. com/ml Suarez, doubting Thomas (1999). Early Mapping of Southeast Asia. Singapore Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd.