Marshall Islands History: Difference between revisions

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'''500''' B.C.First Micronesian navigators arrive in the Marshalls, calling the atolls ''Aelon Kien Ad ''(Our Islands).<br>'''1494''' All of Micronesia is ceded to Spain<br>'''1529''' Spaniard Alvaro Saavedra discovers the Marshalls.<br>'''1788''' British Naval Captain William Marshall sails through the area while transporting convicts and names it.<br>'''1857''' Reverend Hiram Bingham, Jr. of the American Board of Commissioners of Foreign Missions creates a missionary outpost on Ebon.<br>'''1860s''' Adolph Capelle builds the first trading company in the Marshalls. Other German trading firms come.<br>'''1878''' Germans establish a calling station and start coconut plantations to produce copra. Captain von Werner of the German Navy grants trade privileges to natives of the Ralik chain.<br>'''1885''' German government annexes the Marshalls and pays Spain $4.5 milllion.<br>'''1886''' Germany establishes a protectorate over the Marshalls.<br>'''1887''' The Jaluit Company, a German entity entrusted with governance of the Marshalls, is formed.<br>'''1898''' Germany receives ownership of Ujelang and Enewetok atolls as a result of the Spanish American war<br>'''1914''' The Marshalls are captured from Germany by the Japanese.<br>'''1920''' The League of Nations grants a mandate to Japan to administer the Marshalls.<br>'''1934''' Japan builds defenses in the Marshalls.<br>'''1943''' Allied invasion of the Marshalls begins and occupation results in 1943.<br>'''1945''' End of World War II grants control of the Marshall to the U.S.A.<br>'''1946''' U.S.A. begins testing nuclear bombs. Bikini atoll is evacuated for the first tests.<br>'''1947''' Marshall Islands become part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands established by the United Nations.<br>'''1948''' U.S. nuclear testing expands to Enewetok atoll.<br>'''1951''' U.S. Dept. of the Interior assumes responsibility within the U.S. Government from the Dept. of the Navy.<br>'''1952''' U.S. tests the first hydrogen bomb on Enewetak.<br>'''1954''' U.S. nuclear hydrogen bomb on Bikini atoll and radiation from the test forces evacuation of all people on ''Rongelap, Rongerik, Utirik, and Ailinginae''. The Rongleapese return and leave again years later.<br>'''1965''' Congress of Micronesia is formed.<br>'''1978''' Marshall Islands Constitutional convention adopts the first constitution.<br>'''1979''' The country becomes self-governing.<br>'''1982''' It is renamed the ''Republic of the Marshall Islands ''(RMI)<br>'''1983''' Voters in the RMI approve the Compact of Free Association with the USA. The USA gives $183 million to the Marshalls for damages caused by the nuclear bomb tests. <br>'''1991 '''The Republic of the Marshall Islands becomes a member of the United Nations.