Pacific Islands, Trust Territory of the, was a territory administered by the United States under the approval of the United Nations (UN). The territory was established by the UN in 1947. It ceased to exist in 1994, when Palau, its last remaining member, became completely self-governing.
The trust territory originally consisted of the Caroline and Marshall islands, and all the Mariana Islands except Guam, which was already a U.S. possession. These island groups all belong to a larger area in the western Pacific Ocean called Micronesia. The islands of the territory were seized from Japan by the United States during World War II (1939-1945).
Under the terms of the trusteeship agreement with the UN, the United States assumed responsibility for the political, economic, social, and educational development of the islands. In return, the United States was recognized as the sole administering authority for the area. It was given the right to govern the territory according to its laws and to build military facilities where and when necessary. The U.S. Navy administered the Trust Territory for the United States until 1951, when administrative responsibility passed to the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Through the years, calls for self-government by the people of the territory grew. In 1969, the United States government and representatives from the various islands began negotiations to end the trusteeship. In 1975, the Northern Marianas became a self-governing U.S. commonwealth. In 1979, four local districts in the Caroline Islands—Kosrae, Ponape (now Pohnpei), Truk (now Chuuk), and Yap—joined together and adopted a constitution to form the Federated States of Micronesia. Palau and the Marshall Islands declared themselves republics in 1979.
In 1982, Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands signed compacts of free association with the United States. Under these compacts, the three governments control their internal and foreign affairs. However, the United States is responsible for the defense of the islands and is obligated to provide them with financial assistance.
The compacts between the United States and the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands took effect in 1986. Palau became totally self-governing in 1994, thereby ending the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.
