Why does the US have territories?

Although each U.S. colony has its own complicated history, these places have remained colonies to a great extent because the military can operate there without fearing eviction and with greater freedom than in the 50 states.

Why does the US own Guam?

The only reason America annexed Guam and its Chamorro inhabitants all those years ago was because the U.S. was at war with Spain. When the Spanish-American War broke out in April of 1898, Guam was under Spanish control (as it had been since the 1600s). The Philippines and Guam are only 1,500 miles apart.

How were US territories acquired?

The United States has acquired new island territories through cession, purchase, and occupation, according to the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs. The territories gained by the U.S. through occupation were primarily small islands in the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.

Why does the US still claim Guam?

In the late 1890s, tensions began mounting with Spain. As part of their campaign during the Spanish-American War, the United States captured Guam in a bloodless landing on June 21, 1898. In 1898, the Treaty of Paris formalized the handover, and Guam officially came under U.S. rule.

Why did the US want Puerto Rico as a territory?

The strategic value of Puerto Rico for the United States at the end of the nineteenth century centered in economic and military interests. The island’s value to US policy makers was as an outlet for excess manufactured goods, as well as a key naval station in the Caribbean.

What would be the benefits of Puerto Rico becoming a state?

Benefits of statehood include an additional $10 billion per year in federal funds, the right to vote in presidential elections, higher Social Security and Medicare benefits, and a right for its government agencies and municipalities to file for bankruptcy.

Why did the US acquire territories in the Pacific?

The U.S. Government realized that it had to establish formal diplomatic ties in order to protect the interests of its citizens. Ultimately this need became so great, and the U.S. presence so large, that the United States annexed the islands in 1898.