Territories of the United States

The U.S. has many lands.

Some are far away on islands.

Many people live on these islands. Five places have many people. They are in the sea. Some are near the Caribbean. Others are in the Pacific.

These lands have their own ways. People have their own food. They speak their own ways to talk. They also have their own culture.

Some lands became states. Hawaii was a territory first. Then it became a state. This happened a long time ago.

These places are special. They are part of the U.S. but they are different too.

The United States has many lands called territories.

These areas are part of the U.S. but are not states. They are often islands in the sea.

Five territories have many people living there. These are Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa.

Most of these are in the Pacific Ocean. Some are in the Caribbean Sea. In 2020, about 3.62 million people lived in these five places.

These lands have their own ways of life. People have their own history and culture. They may also speak their own native languages. In American Samoa, people keep native ways to protect their land.

Each territory has its own leaders. They elect a governor to lead them. They also elect members to the U.S. Congress. However, these members cannot vote on laws. This is different from how states work. In the past, many territories became states. Hawaii was the last one to join. It became a state on August 21, 1959.

The United States has many areas called territories.

These are lands that belong to the U.S. but are not states. They are often called insular areas because they are islands.

Most of these territories are located in the ocean. There are three groups of islands in the Caribbean Sea. There are also eleven groups of islands in the Pacific Ocean. These places have their own unique history and culture. They are distinct nations with their own languages and ways of life.

There are different ways to group these territories. Some are called organized, which means they have a local government. Others are called unorganized.

Some are called incorporated, where the U.S. Constitution applies fully. Most are unincorporated, meaning the Constitution applies only partially. Five territories have many people living there permanently. These are Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa.

The other nine are called the United States Minor Outlying Islands. These are small islands or reefs with no permanent people.

History shows how territories can change over time. In the past, the U.S. created territories to manage new lands. Many of these lands eventually became states.

For example, Hawaii was a territory before it became a state. Hawaii joined the Union on August 21, 1959. Some territories lasted a very short time. The Alabama Territory only lasted for two years. Other territories, like New Mexico, lasted for more than 50 years. This shows that the path to statehood can be very different for every place.

Life in the territories has its own rules.

Each territory elects its own governor and local leaders. They also send people to the U.S. Congress. However, these representatives are non-voting members. This means they can talk and join committees, but they cannot vote on final laws.

People born in Puerto Rico or Guam are U.S. citizens. In American Samoa, people are U.S. nationals. They chose this to protect their own native land and culture. This helps them keep their indigenous traditions alive.

Today, the territories face many different challenges. Some people want to be more closely part of the U.S. Others want to stay as independent as possible.

Some areas have better health than the mainland. For instance, American Samoa has a lower death rate than the U.S. Some areas struggle with poverty or have less modern infrastructure. Even with these differences, the territories remain a vital part of the American story. They show how different cultures can live under one large government.

Territories of the United States are subnational areas under the sovereignty of the U.S. federal government.

These areas are administrative divisions rather than integral parts of the country. Unlike states, which possess dual sovereignty, territories are not inherently sovereign. Their self-governing powers come directly from the U.S. Congress through the Territorial Clause in Article IV of the Constitution. This means Congress has the power to make rules for these lands. These territories are often called insular areas because they are located on islands.

The United States holds sovereignty over three archipelagos in the Caribbean Sea and eleven in the Pacific Ocean.

There are several ways to classify these territories based on their legal status. One distinction is between organized and unorganized territories. An organized territory operates under an organic act, which is a law passed by Congress to provide local government.

An unorganized territory does not have such an act. Another distinction is between incorporated and unincorporated territories. In an incorporated territory, the U.S. Constitution applies fully. In an unincorporated territory, the Constitution applies only partially. Currently, only one territory, the Palmyra Atoll, is classified as incorporated. Most inhabited territories are unincorporated.

Of the 14 total territories, five are permanently inhabited.

These are Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa. The other nine are known as the United States Minor Outlying Islands. These are small islands, atolls, or reefs with no permanent population.

In 2020, the combined population of the five inhabited territories was about 3.62 million people. Over 90% of this population lives in Puerto Rico alone. These territories function as distinct nations with identities based on their specific land, history, and culture.

History shows that territories were often created to manage newly acquired land.

Over time, many of these territories eventually achieved statehood. For example, Hawaii was a territory before becoming a state on August 21, 1959. Some territories became states very quickly, such as the Alabama Territory, which lasted only two years. Others, like New Mexico and Hawaii, remained territories for more than 50 years. Out of the 50 current states, 31 were once part of an organized, incorporated territory. This process shows how the United States expanded its borders over many decades.

Governance in the territories is unique compared to the states. Each inhabited territory has its own three branches of government. They elect their own local governors and legislatures.

They also elect a non-voting member to the U.S. House of Representatives. These representatives can introduce legislation and serve on committees, but they cannot vote on the final passage of laws. Residents of the territories cannot vote in U.S. presidential general elections. However, they can vote in presidential primary elections. This creates a complex political relationship between the islands and the mainland.

Citizenship and legal rights also vary by location. People born in Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands are U.S. citizens by birth. However, people born in American Samoa acquire U.S. nationality rather than citizenship. The people of American Samoa have chosen this to protect their indigenous land and culture. Some territories also face economic differences compared to the states. In 2012, data showed that infrastructure in the territories was generally inferior to the continental U.S. Poverty rates in these areas are also higher than in the states.

Despite these challenges, some territories show remarkable strengths. For instance, Guam has health levels comparable to the United States. American Samoa has a crude death rate of 7.2 per 1,000 people, which is lower than the U.S. rate of 9.2 per 1,000.

Researchers suggest that indigenous diets and lifestyles help support this health. The territories continue to explore different paths for their future. Some advocate for closer integration with the United States. Others choose to remain as independent as possible to preserve their unique heritage.