FSM HistoryLesson pack 6 of 10
The Trust Territory 1945–1979
Summary
After the war the islands became a UN “strategic” trust run by the United States, first through the Navy and from 1951 through the Interior Department. US policy in the 1950s was hands-off, later nicknamed the “zoo theory,” until decisions from 1962 under Kennedy brought more money, more schooling and, from 1966, the Peace Corps. A generation of Micronesian leaders came up in these years: Chuuk’s Tosiwo Nakayama studied at the Pacific Islands Central School, led the Truk District Legislature in 1960–61 and advised the US delegation to the UN Trusteeship Council in 1961.
Main topics: A “strategic” trust under the US Navy; The 1950s became known as the “zoo theory” years; Kennedy’s turn brought money and Americanization.
Mini-timeline
| 1945 | (6 Feb) Marine PBJ bombers strike Palikir Airfield No. 2, the last listed US mission against Ponape; one PBJ is lost. [Pacific Wrecks, Ponape missions] |
|---|---|
| 1946 | (5 Jan 1946) Last units of the Japanese 52nd Independent Mixed Brigade, shipped out of Ponape on 23 Dec 1945, landed at Uraga, Japan. [JACAR, 52nd Brigade] |
| 1947 | (1947) A Navy admiral’s plea to leave islanders “alone in their happiness” was later read as the origin of the “zoo theory” of neglect. [Marianas Variety, “Zoo theory”] |
| 1952 | (1952) The Jesuits opened Xavier High School on Mabuchi hill, Moen (Weno), the first high school in the Trust Territory. [Wikipedia, Xavier High School] |
| 1960 | (30 Nov 1960) Typhoon Ophelia passed directly over Ulithi, killing two boys, wrecking about a quarter of houses and most canoes, and ruining taro. [Lessa 1964, *Micronesica*] |
| 1963 | (9 May – 9 Oct 1963) The Solomon survey mission visited all districts. Its classified report found islander income about one-third of 1939 levels and favoured steering a plebiscite. [Jensen 2016] |
| 1967 | (Feb 1967) A second Peace Corps intake brought about 455 volunteers, roughly one per 195 Micronesians. [Marianas Variety, Peace Corps timeline] |
| 1970 | (1970) High Commissioner’s Directive 70-2 renamed the teacher center the Community College of Micronesia (CCM). [Wikipedia, COM-FSM] |
| 1972 | (26 Dec 1972) Former Yap senator Francis Nuuan died on Guam after being hit by a car. [Wikipedia, Francis Nuuan] |
| 1975 | (1975) The college became the College of Micronesia system (COM-FSM catalog dating; Wikipedia gives 1976 merger or 1978 corporation). [COM-FSM catalog] |
| 1978 | (1978) A Congress act merged CCM, the Palau occupational center and the Saipan nursing school into the College of Micronesia public corporation. [Wikipedia, COM-FSM] |
| 1979 | (1979) Total US federal assistance to the Trust Territory reached $138.7 million, about 60% of it for programs and capital projects. [Jensen 2016] |
Discussion questions
What made the Trust Territory a ‘strategic’ trust, and why did that matter?
What does the ‘zoo theory’ label say about US policy in the 1950s?
How did the Kennedy years change schools, money and outside influence?
What role did the Peace Corps play, and how large was it?
What role did the Pacific Islands Central School play in training future leaders?
Quiz
Circle one letter for each multiple-choice question. Write short answers on the lines. For ordering questions, fill the boxes in order, earliest first.
What change in how the Trust Territory was run took effect on 1 July 1951?
Why was the Trust Territory called a “strategic” trust, and why did that matter?
The Pacific Islands Central School, which trained a generation of leaders, moved from Guam to Chuuk in 1948. Where did it move in 1959?
- A Pohnpei
- B Saipan
- C Yap
- D Kosrae
Put these in order, earliest first:
- A The first Peace Corps volunteers arrive
- B Administration moves from the Navy to the Interior Department
- C NSAM 145 raises the budget and moves headquarters to Saipan
Earliest Latest
Name one Micronesian who held a leadership role in the early 1960s, before the Congress of Micronesia existed, and say what the role was.