What does it mean to be a US territory?

Answer 1

The following areas are or have been territories of the United States: * American Samoa was acquired under the 1899 Treaty of Berlin between Germany, Great Britain, and the United States. The islands are now an unorganized and unincorporated territory of the United States and are administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs.

* The Federated States of Micronesia were part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, but in November 1986 became a fully independent country in free association with the United States. While the country is independent, the United States provides defense and some financial assistance, and in return is allowed military use of the islands.

* Guam became a territory of the United States after the Spanish-American War. Under the December 10, 1898 Treaty of Paris, Spain ceded the island to the United States. Guam was captured by Japan in 1941 but was retaken by the United States in 1944. It became an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States in August, 1950, and is administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs.

* The Northern Mariana Islands were part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and became a self-governing United States commonwealth in 1986.

* The Republic of the Marshall Islands was part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, but in November 1986 became a fully independent republic in free association with the United States. While the country is independent, the United States provides defense and some financial assistance, and in return is allowed military use of the islands.

* The Republic of Palau was part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, but in October 1994 it became a fully independent republic in free association with the United States. While the country is independent, the United States provides defense and some financial assistance, and in return is allowed military use of the islands.

* The minor outlying islands which are territories of the United States include Midway Atoll (acquired in 1867), Palmyra Atoll (acquired in 1898, with Hawaii), Wake Atoll (acquired in 1899), Baker Island and Howland Island (acquired in 1857), Jarvis Island (acquired in 1858), Johnston Atoll (acquired in 1858), Kingman Reef (acquired in 1922), and Navassa Island (acquired in 1857).

* The Philippines became a territory of the United States after the Spanish-American War. Under the December 10, 1898 Treaty of Paris, Spain ceded the islands to the United States for $20 million. In 1935 the Philippines became a self-governing commonwealth. Japan took over the country from 1942-1944, but the United States regained the islands in 1945, and full independence was granted in July, 1946. Ref: http://www.nationalatlas.gov/mld/usacqup.html

Answer 2

It means that the land was not settled yet, or formed into a state. This is what the United States called land before it had joined as a state.