But historically Guam was once a colony of Spain, and Spain stationed troops in Guam for more than 300 years. Later, the United States 1898 defeated Spain and took Guam into the bag. Moreover, during World War II, Guam was briefly controlled by Japan.
Let's take a look at this history of Guam.
Guam was discovered by Spanish navigator Magellan. When new shipping routes were opened up, Spain embarked on the road of colonial expansion. 1565, Guam was officially declared to be owned by Spain, and a trading post was built on it as a transit point on the route from Acapulco, Mexico to Manila, Philippines.
1668, Spain declared Guam a colony and officially began its cruel and bloody colonial road. Relying on the colonial expansion of globalization, Spain became the first "empire that never fell". However, due to the weak succession of the Spanish empire, it failed to catch up with the second industrial revolution in time, so the comprehensive national strength continued to decline and it was no longer strong.
At this time, after experiencing the war of independence and civil war, the United States caught up with the second industrial revolution and quickly established a powerful navy. The United States also wants to carve up the big cake of the world. It happened that most of Central America was a Spanish colony at that time, so the first goal of American global expansion was to choose Spain.
At the end of 19, an uprising against Spanish rule broke out in Cuba and other places in Central America, which was brutally suppressed by Spain. In this process, it will inevitably affect the interests of American local capitalists, which makes the United States ecstatic, because it gives them an excuse to wage war against Spain.
So 1898, the Spanish-American War broke out, and the long-prepared American troops carried 5,600 American soldiers not only in Central America, but also in the Pacific battlefield, and took Guam in just 24 hours.
In this way, Guam entered the American era from the Spanish era.
After the outbreak of World War II, the retreat of the US Pacific Fleet led Japan to occupy Guam, but it was quickly recaptured by the United States in 1944, and Japan only controlled Guam for three years.
After World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union became two well-deserved superpowers. In the face of ideology and national interests, the cold war began. In order to curb the influence of China and the Soviet Union in the Asia-Pacific region, the United States needs to control the islands, waterways and sea areas in the western Pacific, which are strategically located. In this way, the so-called "three island chain" came into being.
1950, the United States passed bill 7273, declaring Guam an unincorporated territory of the United States. Although it has autonomy, it needs the supervision and governance of the United States. In addition, although Guam residents enjoy American citizenship, they cannot vote for the president. Guam is also the last colony in the world. The United States also used this method to control Guam step by step.