Territories and the District
Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs for political status; National Archives and GPO for the instruments. Atlas dates use the civic teaching date (treaty, transfer, or constitution in force), which can differ by a few days from a later ratification or flag-raising.
Office of Insular Affairs
US Department of the Interior · n.d. · Status
Federal office for the inhabited insular areas.
Acquisition Process of Insular Areas
US Department of the Interior · n.d. · Status
Table of cessions: Guam and Puerto Rico from Spain; American Samoa by deeds of cession (April 17, 1900 and July 14, 1904); US Virgin Islands from Denmark, 1917; Northern Marianas by covenant.
https://www.doi.gov/oia/islands/acquisitionprocess (opens in a new tab)
American Samoa
US Department of the Interior · n.d. · Status
People born in American Samoa are US nationals, not automatic US citizens.
https://www.doi.gov/oia/islands/american-samoa (opens in a new tab)
Guam
US Department of the Interior · n.d. · Status
US territory from 1898. The Guam Organic Act of 1950 conferred US citizenship and established civilian government.
US Virgin Islands
US Department of the Interior · n.d. · Status
Purchased from Denmark in 1917 for $25 million. US citizenship conferred in 1927. Revised Organic Act of 1954 organizes local government.
https://www.doi.gov/oia/islands/virgin-islands (opens in a new tab)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
US Department of the Interior · n.d. · Status
Emerged from the U.N. Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. The page says the Covenant law “passed in 1975”; the statute itself (Pub. L. 94-241, 90 Stat. 263) was approved March 24, 1976. Constitution adopted 1977; first constitutional government took office in 1978.
Proclamation 4534 — Constitution of the Northern Mariana Islands
National Archives (Presidential Proclamation 4534, Jimmy Carter) · 1977 · Instruments
The CNMI Constitution came into full force at 11:00 a.m. January 9, 1978, Northern Mariana Islands local time.
https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/proclamations/04534.html (opens in a new tab)
Records of the Government of the Virgin Islands (RG 055)
National Archives · n.d. · Instruments
Danish West Indies sold by treaty of August 14, 1916; Senate ratified September 7, 1916; transfer under the act of March 3, 1917.
https://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/055.html (opens in a new tab)
Guide to US Virgin Islands Records
National Archives · n.d. · Instruments
The United States flag was hoisted March 31, 1917 — Transfer Day, the Atlas date.
https://www.archives.gov/philadelphia/finding-aids/us-virgin-islands (opens in a new tab)
Puerto Rican Federal Relations Act (Jones–Shafroth), 39 Stat. 951
US Government Publishing Office · 2023 · Citizenship
Act of March 2, 1917, ch. 145, 39 Stat. 951. Statutory US citizenship for Puerto Rico. Distinct from the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, also called the Jones Act.
Foraker Act — civil government for Puerto Rico
US Government Publishing Office (US Code Title 48, Chapter 4 notes) · 2017 · Citizenship
Act of April 12, 1900, ch. 191, 31 Stat. 77. Established civilian government after the military occupation. Inhabitants were citizens of Puerto Rico under US protection — not US citizens. Citizenship came with Jones–Shafroth, 1917.
Domestic Shipping (Jones Act)
US Maritime Administration (MARAD) · n.d. · Instruments
Merchant Marine Act of 1920, 46 U.S.C. § 55102: merchandise between US points must move on a vessel that is US-built, US-owned, and coastwise endorsed. Keys teaches the classroom form US-built, US-flagged, US-crewed. The statute MARAD states is built, owned, and coastwise-endorsed.
https://www.maritime.dot.gov/ports/domestic-shipping/domestic-shipping (opens in a new tab)
46 U.S.C. § 55102 — Transportation of merchandise
US Government Publishing Office · 2023 · Instruments
Recodified Jones Act cabotage: vessel must be wholly owned by US citizens and hold a coastwise endorsement. Source note: June 5, 1920, ch. 250, § 27, 41 Stat. 999.
Revised Constitution of American Samoa — Article V, § 9
Government of American Samoa · 1967 · Instruments
“The seat of Government shall be at Fagatogo.” Revised 1967 constitution. It does not name a seat of the Fono.
Act of February 25, 1927 — citizenship in the Virgin Islands, 44 Stat. 1234
US Government Publishing Office (Statutes at Large) · 1927-02-25 · Citizenship
Declared certain inhabitants of the Virgin Islands, and their children born after January 17, 1917, to be citizens of the United States.
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-44/pdf/STATUTE-44-Pg1234.pdf (opens in a new tab)
Organic Act of Guam
US Government Publishing Office (statute compilation) · 1950 · Citizenship
Approved August 1, 1950. Declares Guam an unincorporated territory and provides civilian government. DOI’s Guam page records that the same act conferred US citizenship.
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/COMPS-1142/pdf/COMPS-1142.pdf (opens in a new tab)
District of Columbia Home Rule Act
US Government Publishing Office (statute compilation) · 1973 · District
Public Law 93-198, December 24, 1973. Charter for an elected mayor and council. Congress retains constitutional authority as legislature for the District. Keys: home rule is delegated, not statehood.
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/COMPS-709/pdf/COMPS-709.pdf (opens in a new tab)
Imperial Japanese Occupation of Guam (1941–1944)
National Park Service, War in the Pacific National Historical Park · n.d. · Record
Occupation December 10, 1941 until July 21, 1944. Keys: recaptured in 1944; invasion 1941, liberation July–August 1944.
https://www.nps.gov/wapa/learn/historyculture/imperial-japanese-occupation.htm (opens in a new tab)
The Secretary of State on the Danish West Indies cession (FRUS 1917)
Office of the Historian, US Department of State · 1917-01-22 · Instruments
Article 5: twenty-five million dollars in gold coin. The islands, with Porto Rico, “are of great importance in connection with the American isthmus, where a canal will be constructed between the Atlantic and Pacific.” Atlas Virgin Islands: purchased 1917 for $25 million to secure the approach to the Panama Canal. Matches the price and the isthmus reason on this page.
https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1917/d880 (opens in a new tab)