01/06/2026
On June 20, 1898, Captain Henry Glass, aboard the USS Charleston entered Apra Harbor and fired at Fort Santa Cruz. Spanish officials, including Governor Juan Marina went out to the meet the Americans, and were soon taken prisoner. History books treat this moment as comic because the canons fired at the Spanish fort were interpreted by the Spanish as a greeting, not a sign of war.
Word had yet to reach Guam, that the Spanish-American War had started in April in the Caribbean and had then extended to the Spanish colonies in Asia. Glass was part of a convoy of ships that were sent to take Manila for the United States. His orders were to take Guam on the way.
The US flag was raised accompanied by a 21-gun salute and the playing of the “Star Spangled Banner.”
Although, just as quickly as they arrived, the American forces, soon left, taking their flag with them. Uncertainty over the status of the CHamoru people would persist for more than a year, until The Treaty of Paris of 1898 officially ceded Guam and our people to the United States as spoils of the Spanish-American War. In 1899, a US Naval Governor would be installed on Guam, and a US Naval Government created for the island. The American flag would fly over Guam, although CHamorus would continue to question what is symbolized in terms of democracy, liberty and freedom, especially since during the World War II Naval period, CHamorus were not US citizens, not allowed to participate in any local democracy and instead ruled by an unelected autocratic Naval Governor.
Only in 1950, with the passage of the Organic Act did the first changes in civilian government and citizenship start to take effect, although questions remain as to whether Guam, which is still considered to be an American unincorporated territory and a non-self-governing territory as defined by the United Nations, is genuinely self-governing.
Image is of Captain Glass aboard the Charleston.
