Northern Mariana Islands and Guam History

Guam in the buffs report A Review of the Islands Unique History VincentAnthony V. Borja English cxxxv Professor Rosemary Harty April 21, 2011 Over the past 10 years, random plurality would ask me ab come out the story of Guam, and how it became a unite States territory. Grew up or so of my manners on Guam, but never really cared about its history, although, all(prenominal) year we would celebrate its liberation day from the Nipponese and celebrate jocund holidays significant to the islands history, I never really understood why we noteworthy it. The Spanish Era, the American Period, & the Japanese occupation played a major(ip) influence on the island and its civilisation like a shot.The island of Guam, Guahan in native Chamorro, is a sincerely yours multi-ethnic community that reflects the gardenings of its original Chamorro inhabitants as early as 2,000 B. C. , influenced by countless European, American, Asiatic, Micronesian, and other people who capture occupied, visited and immigrated to Guam since the 16th Century. Many forefront the discovery by the Spaniards, the occupation of the Americans and the Japanese that shaped the islands history that makes its culture very fascinating. Understanding the islands struggles that have lead to the American position that it eventually became afterwards some(prenominal) centuries of chip.Guam of today is truly a change integrity community with a differentive culture, the foundation of which is ancient Chamorro heavily influenced by the Spanish occupation and the Catholic Church. Strong American influence is overly evident in the celebration of many globe holidays, the form of presidency and the pride in being U. S. that is displayed by the natives. Guams culture has similarly been influenced and enriched by the Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Chinese and Micronesian immigrants individually group of who have added their unique contributions.According to the 2000 enumerate of Population and Ho using the present population of Guam, is approximately 154,805 whom roughly 37% are Chamorro, 26% Filipino, 11% other Pacific Islander with the rest 26% primarily Caucasian, Chinese, Korean and Japanese, all of whom bring their cultural inheritance 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 traveler form the body politic of Venice.Pigafetta travelled with Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan and recorded most of Magellans travels. Ferdinand Magellan on March 6, 1521, first discovered the island. (Pigafetta, 1995, p. 18) During his stop on the island, the natives canoed out to the ships and steal everything that was not secured or tied down. The weakened sailors had trouble fending aside the overblown and robust natives until a few shots from theTrinidads big guns frightened them moody the ship and they retreated into the surroun ding jungle. The purpose of Magellans visit was to stock on supplies and watch food.After Magellans travel throughout the Marianas, it was primarily his love on Guam that the Marianas was named Li Ladroni, the island of thieves. (Suarez, 1999, p. 133) Although Magellan was considered the first European explorer to step pedestal on Guams beaches, it was known that Guam and the other Mariana islands were formally claimed by the Spanish bloom in 1565 by General Miguel Lopez de Legazpi for Spain. King Phillip II of Spain wanted spate to begin with the Phillipine islands, islands named after him. Legazpi was sent crossways the pacific from Mexico, which was a resolution of Spain in 1564.During Legazpis sail across the pacific, King Phillip ordered him to construct possession of all land and any island encountered. Additionally, he wanted Legazpi to find a route betwixt Mexico and the Philllipines that would go through the pacific. Legazpi and his fleet reached Guam on January 2 2, 1565 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 eleven days.During this visit, Legazpi was so claustrophobic of upsetting the Chamorros that he ordered all crew members not to go on shore without his permission. The Chamorros were much friendlier, canoeing out to accost the voyagers with food and supplies, a much different experience the Spanish explorers had remembered during their break down Guam visit. Clever and sly, the Chamorros were always trying to trade rice for nails. oft the natives would fool the voyagers by placing rice in the top of the bag and fill the bottom with rocks and straw.When the men went ashore to fill the kegs with water, an altercation took place, and one of Legazpis men was killed. Legazpi was upset and ordered a hundred men to go to the island and punish the Chamorros. The result was three Chamorros hung and killed and many houses and canoes burned. Following the ensuant 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. Chief Quipuha was the magalahi or highest-ranking male, in the celestial sphere of Hagatna when the Spanish landed off its shores in 1668. On June 15, 1668 missionaries led by Spanish Jesuit sky pilot 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 rigorouss, to exert. Chief Quipuha was so welcoming to these missionaries he even offered a secret plan of land in Hagatna for the mission. Political Status Education Coordinating Commission, 1995) It was on this offered land where the first Cat holic Church in Guam was built and universality was introduced. Chief Quipuha died in 1669, but his legacy left a dreaded impact that allowed the Spanish to continue its legacy for the Manila Galleon trade, which was the exchange of goods amongst 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 featherbed female child without the Chiefs agree. (Rogers, 1995, p. 5) It is theorized, that Mata pang may 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 tranquil manner, the Spanish military ruthlessly governed the local populace to protect their Galleon routes. disregardless of Mata pangs motives, the death of San Vitores lead to an all-out war that nearly resulted in defunctness of the Chamorro race. Sources have estimated Cham orro 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, grading the end of the pure Chamorro bloodline. (Rogers, 1995, pp. 41-57) After 1695, Chamorros were forced to settle in five resolutions Hagatna, Agat, Umatac, Pago, and Fena, were monitored by the priests and military garrison, forced to attend Church mundane and to key Spanish language and customs. In 1740, Chamorros of the Northern Marianas Islands, barely Rota, were removed from their home islands and exiled to Guam.Mata pang himself was killed in a final contend 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 provisions preyed upon th e Spanish galleons. Guam was a host to a number of scientists, voyagers, and whalers from Russia, France, and England some of whom provided detailed accounts of the daily life on Guam under Spanish rule.Evidence of Spanish buildings, bridges, churches and forts can legato be seen across the island, especially in the southern areas of the island. Spanish cannon so far overlooks Hagatna and Umatac bays from Forts Agueda and Soledad, the Plaza de Espana, once the Spanish Governors Palace, still stands in central 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(prenominal) 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 agreement 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 magnanimous to about 10,000 inhabitants. U. S. President William McKinley issued an executive order placing Guam within the administration of the Department of the Navy. schoolmaster R. P. Leary was ap rateed the islands first U. S. Governor. (Rogers, 1995, p. 14) Under Navy administration, Guam see many improvements in the areas of agriculture, public health, sanitation, education, land management, taxes, and public works. Orders issued by Captain Leary on gilded 16, 1899, set the importation and sale of intoxicating liquors modulate the celebration of church and other holidays prohibited the transfer of land without the consent of the government prohibited concubine and required that marriage be performed between psyches that were cohabiting prohibited exportation of certain articles in common use among he people required persons without a trade or regular affair to pant stipulate commodities and keep ce rtain live stock regulated the keeping of dogs and other animals running at large abrogated the Spanish organisation 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, collected $703. 92 to have a ships bell and a commemorative governance manu itemured in Shanghai, China.The bell was presented to the Navy and has served distinctively on each of the three USS Guam Naval vessels. (Palomo, 1999)The U. S. Navy continued to use Guam as a refueling and communication station until 1941, when it fell to invading Japanese forces suddenly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The bell, along 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 at the Norfolk, Virgi nia, Naval Base. The USS Guam is the third Navy vessel named after Guam. (Palomo, 1999)JAPANESE demarcation On December 10, 1941, Guam surrendered to the Japanese South Seas detachment after a valiant defensive struggle by the islands Insular describe Guard and a limited number of U. S. Marines. Guam became the only populated U. S. defect to be occupied by another country in reality contend II. Guam was renamed Omiya Jima and for 31 months, the people of Guam were forcibly subjected to intolerable 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 subdivision of Japans Kwantung Army established concentration camps and approximately 600 Chamorros were executed. (Rogers, 1995, pp. 163-181) Some Chamorros were beheaded when the Japanese learned of the 3-year humanitarian movement by Chamorros to successfully feed and hide U. S. Navy rad ioman George Tweed, who break loose in the initial invasion. Tweeds cave is a favorite 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 of naval run in which thousands of Japanese and Chamorros marked the campaign for the liberation of Guam at sea 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 gentleman contend 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 National Historic Park. During the by-line 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 Liberation Day, is a major Guam holiday. All government offices and most businesses are closed as the island celebrates with daylong fiestas and a parade down Marine Corps drive in Hagatna. Because of its strategic position, Guam was used as a command post for U. S. westerly 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, field 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 cave in which he had been hiding since his unit was sca ttered by the advancing Americans in July 1944. Sergeant Yokois cave at Talofofo falls has been preserved 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 bother S. Truman signed the Organic Act making Guam an unincorporated territory of the United States with limited self-governing authority and granting American citizenship to the people of Guam. In 1962, pledge clearance requirement for travel to Guam, which had been in place since World War II, were lifted permitting Guams economy to flourish and opening an influx of new residents of diverse nationalities and races such as Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Indian, Pacific Islanders nd Caucasian. (Rogers, 1995) CULTURE The lens nucleus of Guam culture, the Chamorro, is characterized by a complex social protocol centered upon respect, caring, pass judgment and helping one another. Inafamaol ek, or interdependence, is a central value in Chamorro culture that depends on a spirit of cooperation. Historian 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 sourceful concern for mutuality rather than individualism and reclusive property rights. The culture is visibly manifested in the kissing of the hands of elders, strait of legends, music, dance, chants, courtship rituals, handicrafts, burial rituals, preparation of herbal medicines, and requesting forgiveness from spiritual ancestors when submission 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 fans Point (Puntan Dos Amentes), and Sirena, a beautiful young girl who became a mermaid. Guam Society and Culture masterly Report, 2010) The Spanish occupation was ba se on conquest and conversion to save the heathen souls, implemented by force, which nearly resulted in the total extermination of the pure Chamorro race. However, the Spanish failed to signalize 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 colonization 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 nightclub emphasizes respect for the elderly. The practice ofmanngingi (to smell) entails sniffing the right hand of an elderly pers on 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 pocket billiards 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 300 years. The experience of the islands history and living traditions when you visit historic sites or by take 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 will always be secured by America and very much appreciated. Although, the natives appreciate the Americas presence and Guams current political status on the island, they are still fighting f or 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 extension 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 Occupation to Liberation, referenced April 12, 2011, 2009 Guampedia, uniform resource locator 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. 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Babson Press. Retrieved November 20, 2003, from http//www. scireligion. com/ml Suarez, Thomas (1999). Early Mapping of south-east Asia. Singapore Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd.