Chronological Chamoru Timeline: Historical Events in ChÅmoru History

(approx.) 2500 ~ 4000 B.C.

The Man who was Angel L.G. SantosFirst Chamorus inhabit the archipelago of islands which are now known as the Marianas. Most decide to inhabit Guahan, Luta, Tini'an, and Sa'ipan. Chamorus were the first human inhabitants of what is present day the Marianas Islands.

March 6, 1521 --

Recorded history is made when Chamorus spot the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magelland and his weak, starving and feeble men off the coast of Guahan.

June 16, 1668 --

A previously shipwrecked Spaniard by the name of Pedro brings Father San Vitores to the home of Maga'lahi Kepuha (the chief of the village of Hagatna) to introduce the father to him.

1669 --

Maga'lahi Hurao gathers an estimated force of over 2,000 Chamorus to drive out the Spaniards.

April 2, 1672 --

Father Diego Luis de San Vitores loses his life.Maga'lahi Hirao splits Father San Vitores head down to the neck while Matapang transfixes a spear through the father's heart.

1695 --

Last and final battle of the Spanish-Chamorro wars was fought on the island of Aguihan. The Spanish intent to conquest the Mariana Islands accomplished for the most part in this decade. Almost all the Chamorus from the Northern Mariana Islands, with an exception of a few hiding in Luta, are forcibly relocated to Guahan.

1700 --

Spanish introduced influenza epidemic kills a many untold number of Chamorus.

1856 --

It is noted that Smallpox is introduced to Guam by the American Schooner Frost. The impact as a result causes 3463 fatalities and leaving an estimated population of 4700 native Chamorus on the island.

December 10, 1898 --

Treaty of Paris is signed transferring reigning authority from the Spanish over to the Americans, making our island a "Territory" of the United States.

1898

Our islands are divided again. The U.S. only wants Guahan, and sells the Northern Mariana Islands to Germany.

1920 --

Government enacts an "English only" policy, beginning the decline of the Chamoru language.

December 8, 1941-1944

After Japan bombs Pearl Harbor, Hawai'i the Japanese bombed and invaded the Mariana Islands for over 4 years. Torture, execution, and sufferings of the Chamoru people have occured.

July 21, 1944

America the mother country of Guahan, rescue there so-called people. Despite it took them four years to realize that the Chamoru people were being controlled by the U.S. themseleves, it has taken four years of Japanese torture, invasion, and lost lives of the Chamoru people for the U.S. to finally step in. The invasion and imperialism of the United States begins that day and will til the Chamoru peole find self-determination.

August 1, 1950 --

Harry S. Truman signs the "Organic Act of Guam." Truman wants to ensure that Guam remains a Territory of the United States because of it's stragic location.

January 1969 --

Carlos G. Camacho becomes the first "elected" Governor for Guahan.

1969--

Chamorus from Northern Mariana Islands ask the people of Guahan to unite again before these imperialist countries invaded, divided, and tortured our people.

May 1976 --

Supertyphoon Pamela rips through Guahan and creates great devastation. It would take months, and in some cases years for islanders to recover. Government considers the devastation a "Federal Disaster Zone."

1993--

8.1 earthquake hits Guahan. No deaths occured. It was the strongest earthquake the people of Guahan have felt for decades.

December 1997--

SuperTyphoon Paka rips through Guahan, Luta, Tini'an, Sa'ipan creating one of the greatest devastations in the 90's. It took months for power to get back on. The Chamoru people still lifted there heads despite distaters of there own islands.