Micronesia History Infoplease - Micronesia History

History

The islands, inhabited by Micronesian and Polynesian peoples, were colonized by Spain in the 17th century. Germany purchased them from Spain in 1898. They were occupied by the Japanese in 1914, but American forces seized them from the Japanese during World War II. On April 2, 1947, the United Nations Security Council created the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. The trust placed the Northern Mariana, Caroline, and Marshall Islands under the administration of the United States.

The Micronesian Federation (FMA) became self-governing in 1979. In 1983, the FMA voted to accept a Compact of Free Association with the U.S., and in Nov. 1986, the U.S. government declared the Trust Territory agreements no longer in effectÛthereby granting the Federated States of Micronesia full independence. In Nov. 2002 the compact was renewed for another 20 years.

The FMA was admitted to the United Nations on Sept. 17, 1991. In July 1993, the country became a member of the International Monetary Fund. Micronesia, as well as many other South Pacific countries, is alarmed by the effect continued global warming will have on its islands. The consequent rise in the level of the oceans threatens low-lying islands with flooding and, eventually, with submergence.

In 2004, Yap was ravaged by Typhoon Sudel, and much of its infrastructure was destroyed.

See also Encyclopedia: Micronesia
U.S. State Dept. Country Notes: Micronesia
Government of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) http://www.fsmgov.org/info/people.html .