When you think of the map of the US, what comes to mind? For most, an image of the continental US appears. Others may remember that Hawaiʻi and Alaska exist. Very few, however, would also include islands such as Guam, the US Virgin Islands, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands into their mental image. Yet, these are all islands that fall under US control and whose residents are US citizens.

Even political leaders in the US forget about these places. In 2017 President Donald Trump told the media that he met with the “President” of the US Virgin Islands, although the Virgin Islands is a US territory. This is life in the US territories. These territories and their populations live at the margins of American consciousness, if they are remembered at all. Many wonder, “If these places are not states, then what are they?”

In this module, we will investigate this very question. We will explore what the US territories are, how they were acquired, how being a territory differs from being a state, and how Pacific Islanders are fighting for political change.