1. United States Territories American Samoa Guam Northern Mariana Islands Puerto Rico U. S Virgin Islands

2. American Samoa American Samoa covers 76 sq. miles. There are 5 volcanic islands and it is one of two possessions of the United States in the Southern hemisphere. The population currently is 55,519. The US became interested in the Pago Pago harbor (picture on right) as a naval base in 1900 and it was ceded to the US by a local sovereign. Today it is self- governing with its own constitution.

3. Guam The largest and southernmost of the Mariana Islands. -Claimed by Spain until the Spanish American War, it was ceded to the United States in 1898. -During WWII, the Japanese occupied Guam for 2 1/2 years. -Today, it is a military base for the United States and has an economy based on tourism. The island is 209 sq. mi. with a population of 178,000.

4. Northern Mariana Islands These islands were explored by Magellan in 1521. These islands, claimed by Spain were ceded to the United States after the Spanish American War. Invaded by Japan during WWI, they became a US possession after WWII. Today, the islands are a US Commonwealth with one Delegate in the House of Representatives.

5. Puerto Rico This island was claimed by Columbus for Spain in 1493. Part of the Caribbean islands, Puerto Ricos largest island is 13,790 sq. miles with a population of over 3 million. Congress granted citizenship to the people in 1917 and the country became a commonwealth with its own governor in 1947. Puerto Rico could become our 51 st state one day.

6. US Virgin Islands They were named by Columbus in 1493. -Forty miles east of Puerto Rico, the islands were claimed by Spain and then held by European powers for two hundred years. -The US bought the islands from Denmark in 1917 to keep the Germany from using them as a submarine base. -The 109,000 people of the islands are citizens of the US but cant vote in Presidential elections.

7. Bibliography "American Samoa." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 12 Feb. 2012.. "Guam." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 12 Feb. 2012.. "Northern Mariana Islands." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 12 Feb. 2012.. "Puerto Rico." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 12 Feb. 2012.. "United States Virgin Islands." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 12 Feb. 2012..