Historical Timeline & Abbreviations
Rota, Saipan, Tinian, Northern Mariana Islands & Guam
(1500-1976 AD)
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1500 BC - First settlers documented
0845 BC - First latte stone houses 1521 AD - Magellan first sights islands 1668 AD -First missionaries arrive (priests visit from Guam) 1695 AD - Tinian population taken to Guam 1698 AD - Saipan population taken to Guam 1700-1779 AD - Epidemic kills large part of population 1816 AD - Carolinians settle on Saipan 1870-1879 AD - Guamanian Chamorros settle in NMI 1889 AD - Tinian Carolinians move to Tanapag, Saipan 1898 AD - U.S. acquires Guam as a result of Spanish American War 1899 AD - Germany purchases Northern Marianas from Spain 1899 AD - Saipan becomes as administrative center 1902 AD - Massive earthquakes occur on Saipan 1905 AD - Germans begin public schools on Saipan 1906 AD - Major typhoon destroys villages on Saipan 1907 AD - Saipan District under Yap administration 1914 AD - WWI: Japanese occupy Marianas, Carolines & Marshalls 1914 AD - Saipan hit by large Typhoon 1920 AD - League of Nations mandate NMI to Japan 1922 AD - Marianas administered by Japan's South Seas Bureau 1930 AD - Sugar cane farms begun; Koreans and Okinawans imported 1935 AD - Japan withdraws from League of Nations 1940 AD - Military installation construction begun by Japanese 1941 AD - Japan attacks Pearl Harbor 1944 AD - U.S. took possession of NMI 1945 AD - Japanese surrender (WWII) 1947 AD - UN established U.S. Trust for Northern Marianas 1947 AD - Navy took responsibility for Administration of NMI 1951 AD - Secretary of Interior takes responsibility for NMI 1952 AD - Terr. College of Guam established 1953 AD - Saipan and Tinian administrated by Navy 1953 AD - School of Nursing established in Micronesia 1954 AD - Trust Territory Headquarters moves from Honolulu to Guam 1956 AD - First conference of Micronesian leaders 1960 AD - First American elementary teachers arrive 1962 AD - Rota joined to Saipan forming Marianas District 1962 AD - Trust Territory Headquarters moves from Guam to Saipan 1963 AD - School of Nursing moved to Saipan 1965 AD - First meeting for Congress of Micronesia 1967 AD - First U.S. Peace Corps Volunteers (460 individuals) in Micronesia 1967 AD - Typhoon Gilda destroys Rota 1968 AD - Typhoon Jean destroys Saipan 1968 AD - Territory College of Guam changes name to University of Guam 1969 AD - Northern Marianas votes integration with Guam. Guam votes against. 1976 AD - NMI became a U.S. Commonwealth 1976 AD - Northern Marianas Community College established by Proclamation **Being updated to add 1976 to 1983 |
Abbreviations
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The history and terminology of this region is complex. My hope is that you can enjoy the website's content without having to “study.” However, some discussion of dates and terms will help. Most of the geographic region called Micronesia became the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (TTPI or TT) after WWII. The indigenous people of the NMI are predominantly of Chamorro heritage with roughly a quarter of these of Carolinian heritage or Saipanese Carolinians. Other district of the TTPI made political and name changes.
In 1976 the political map of Micronesia started to change. The Northern Mariana Islands separated from the other districts and became a Commonwealth of the United States. Yap, Truk, Ponape, and Kosrae joined together to become the Federated States of Micronesia. The Marshall Islands became the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Palau Islands became the Republic of Palau. The spelling of Palau changed to Belau. The spelling of Kosrae changed from the earlier spelling of Kusaie. The spelling of Ponape was replaced by the spelling Pohnpei. Truk became Chuuk.
Content for this web site uses the spelling in use when the material was written.
For more detailed information, please read the Brief Historical Summary.
In 1976 the political map of Micronesia started to change. The Northern Mariana Islands separated from the other districts and became a Commonwealth of the United States. Yap, Truk, Ponape, and Kosrae joined together to become the Federated States of Micronesia. The Marshall Islands became the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Palau Islands became the Republic of Palau. The spelling of Palau changed to Belau. The spelling of Kosrae changed from the earlier spelling of Kusaie. The spelling of Ponape was replaced by the spelling Pohnpei. Truk became Chuuk.
Content for this web site uses the spelling in use when the material was written.
For more detailed information, please read the Brief Historical Summary.