America's Overseas Territories: How Bird Poop Led America to Claim 16 Territories - TLDR News

State Flag Survey: forms.gle/fRmPsVjzBjAfvntY8
British Overseas Territories: • British Overseas Terri...
Scattered across the globe you'll find American Overseas Territories. More than just partners but not normally actually part of the United States, these territories have a very interesting relationship with their motherland. So in this video we explain all of America's territories, why the US controls them & how this all came to be because of bird poop.
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1 - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guano_I...
2 - www.britannica.com/place/Guam...
3 - www.doi.gov/oia/islands/ameri...
4 - www.britannica.com/place/Unit...
5 - www.britannica.com/place/Nort...
6 - constitutingamerica.org/terri...
7 - sannicolas.house.gov/financia...

[@napoleonibonaparte7198]

UK: _sniffs._ They grew up so fast...

[@veebuk8522]

UK would be a horrible parent. UK dropped USA on its head when it was just a baby. This is why USA the way it is.

[@Twocat5side]

Lmao yes

[@elizabethx1818]

LOL!!

[@countbinfaceglobalpresiden7926]

Im assuming that Britain is sniffing opium.

[@veebuk8522]

@@countbinfaceglobalpresiden7926 no, thats china

[@Bigdog5400]

U.S: *Starts invading other countries and islands, making them dependent* Britain: *in tears of joy* "That's my son!"

[@mikaelleonbriones6356]

LOL

[@TLDRnewsUS]

CORRECTION: The US became independent in the 18th Century, not the 17th. I meant to say the 1700's when recording the voiceover but clearly just misread my own notes. Apologies! - Jack

[@random123games6]

Hi from the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan)!

[@michaelmayhem350]

You'd be surprised to know that this video surprised a lot of people in the USA. Most only know of Guam and a baffling number of people deny PR is part of the USA.

[@random123games6]

@@michaelmayhem350 yup, this video definitely will surprise them. I’m already seeing it in the comments .

[@random123games6]

@Ralphtherap a little annoyed, but I really don’t hold it against him.

[@kumbaya69421]

@@random123games6 I mean, that's just natural to mispronounce unfamiliar names..

[@johnnyCahuenga]

I met a chick from the Mariana islands in college. She had a picture of where it was located saved on her phone cuz us mainlanders have no idea about it.

[@thecone87]

I worked with somebody from Guam. I knew where it was, but had never met anybody who was actually from there.

[@Cobra7FAC]

Damn, I should do the same thing. Except I currently live in Iowa. People on the coasts can't find Iowa or US Samoa on a map.

[@Justinmc-jf1lb]

I think all of the inhabited territories should become states. No taxation without representation

[@ethelredhardrede1838]

Some don't want it. Puerto Rico goes back forth but has never vote for becoming a state. Right now the Republicans hate the idea.

[@thomasjenkins5727]

To an extent, this is actually being honored. The naturals of the territories aren't taxed like US Citizens, even if they are US Citizens. That said, I don't disagree. Status as a "territory" should be a temporary phase on the path to statehood, not a static situation.

[@ethelredhardrede1838]

@@thomasjenkins5727 The catch is, the Puerto Ricans don't agree. Some of the earlier political bombings in the US were from Puerto Rican Nationalists.

[@thomasjenkins5727]

​@@ethelredhardrede1838 I'm not opposed to them gaining independence either. I support self-determination. If they want to be part of the US, they should seek to be a state. If they want to be independent, the US should let them. I just don't like the half-measure of populated territories. It wreaks of imperialism.

[@ethelredhardrede1838]

@@thomasjenkins5727 That war was a bit odd. It was imperialism, sort of, it was also a way to sell newspapers AND imperialism. Hearst wanted BOTH. I too do wish they would get on with it. One way or the other but it does seem that, overall, the present system is better than independence from the Puerto Rican point of view. On another thread someone told me that the Puerto Ricans have voted to become a state multiple times since 2000, including 2020. "hat’s not true, I’m from Puerto Rico and we’ve voted in favor of statehood in 2012, 2017, and 2020. We want to become a state" I asked if the vote needed to be a supermajority be he has not got back to on that and I have not bothered to look it up. Congress would have to vote on it and I know the Republicans fear, well they fear any change, it would not exactly vote Republican.

[@theestrategicgamer8072]

So, fun fact. Puerto Ricans are not given citizenship by the Constitution, but rather through an act of congress called the Jones-Shafroth Act. I'm sure that this applies to the other territories as well. So, theoretically speaking, Puerto Ricans could have their citizenship taken away in a moment's notice.

[@bigalan3145]

In theory but the supreme court would say that those who currently have will continue only your no longer born a citizen

[@theestrategicgamer8072]

@@bigalan3145 Could definitely. I don't think that this is territory that has been explored before.

[@Goly230]

It has. I don't know if you can find it in english, but if you can read spanish you can find the case of 97 DTS 135 RAMIREZ V. MARI BRAS. Basically, it says Puerto Ricans can't renounce our US Citizenship unless we get a new one, even if you live in Puerto Rico, meaning that you would have to leave the country. Also, in the 90s, Congress stated that in the case Puerto Rico would to become independent, Puerto Ricans born before independence would be US Citizens while those born after wouldn't. The ones that already have it won't loose it unless we renounced it after the recreation of the Puerto Rican Citizenship.

[@Julianna.Domina]

@@bigalan3145 The constitution says if you're born to at least one citizien, you're a citizen, regardless of where you're born, so if we took citizenship from Puerto Rico, their kids would continue to recieve American citizenship

[@Mr.Nichan]

@@Julianna.Domina There's also the question of the rights of children of U.S. citizens to be citizens or seek U.S. citizenship. I'm pretty certain those are determined by law not the constitution, too, though.

[@janosbaksa311]

Love the video, thank you for taking the time to review this topic. I was just curious if there is a reason, why, when you are talking about CNMI, you show a picture of Honolulu, Hawaii (the cityscape)?

[@kevinconrad6156]

Anyone interested in this topic might want to read "How to Hide an Empire. A History of the Greater United States" by Daniel Immerwahr. I read it last Fall and it was a easy read for a complicated topic. It covers all of these plus the territories we don't have anymore.

[@tylerclayton6081]

We should have made the Philippines into a state

[@Mr.Nichan]

You seem to have forgotten about one of the s in "Mariana". Granted, they are apparently called "Manislan Mariånas" in Chamorro, but the just means "a" as in "father" rather than "a" as in "cat", which is what simple apparently represents in Chamorro.

[@Vienna3080]

Another thing worth mentioning should have been the former US Trust Territories now part of the “Compact Of Free Association”

[@StephySon]

Yup, I truly believe we should edit the compact and further help Palau 🇵🇼 The Marshall Islands 🇲🇭 and The Federated States of Micronesia 🇫🇲. With as small as the populations are and as mighty as our wealth is. We could essentially and easily wipe out all poverty on those islands if we so chose to.

[@deanmuramoto3186]

Like your video. Found it strange when the section of the Northern Mariana Islands came up, you showed a photo of Waikiki Beach, Hawaii.

[@RWKIN]

Wow! Great! Always want to understand it. Kurz und knapp, bedankt!

[@karinacampbell9929]

Is this video inspired by Johnny Harris' video?

[@chh4b271]

Was bout to say that

[@TLDRnewsUS]

It wasn't actually! I'm a big fan of Johnny's videos and his style, but I haven't actually seen the one you're referring to just yet. As we mentioned, we made this video because people requested it in the comments of the one we did on British territories, so we decided to make it before even realising Johnny's video existed. Also I deliberately try not to watch videos on the same topic we're covering to prevent us from even subconsciously stealing from other creators. Thanks for the recommendation though, now our video's done I should check his out - Jack

[@dylanshaffer2184]

@@TLDRnewsUS Johnny Harris did a video of every French overseas territory

[@anttibjorklund1869]

"You'll be back" Was that a Hamilton reference....?

[@danielsykes7558]

Great video. I'd recommend folks read 'how to hide an empire' by Daniel Immerwahr. I really enjoyed listening to that book last summer.

[@JoseLopez-rp5xg]

One interesting thing that you could investigate is how DC's statehood is a civil rights discussion, whereas Puerto Rico's status is a humans rights discussion.

[@googleplususer3009]

Puerto Rico is simply a colonial possession, along with the other territories. The US Empire doesn't compare with the [former] British empire - but by the time they got round to colonising territories, there weren't so many left available....

[@lepworra7514]

@@googleplususer3009 What?

[@StephySon]

Honestly both D.C. and Puerto Rico could be considered issues of both civil and human rights

[@threecards333]

@@StephySon Puerto Rico periodically votes on whether to remain the status quo, become a state or be given independence. Giving independence or statehood without popular consent seems a bit questionable. Last year the vote was 52.34 for statehood and 47.66 for not statehood. Majority but bare majority favored statehood.

[@StephySon]

@@threecards333 at this point something must be done because the vast majority certainly agree the status quo isn’t working. I’m in favor of a recent bill put forward in the House of Representatives by Boriqua representatives AOC and Nyadia Valesquez. It would allow fully for Puerto Rico to fully and properly decide it’s status and not in any sham or unfair vote. Somewhat like a constitutional convention that would then have to be voted on by congress.

[@KhaalixD]

Great video!

[@TILR]

You should have mentioned the grouping of the US Minor Outlying Islands (it has its own ISO country code)

[@MillionaireMindsetClub]

Didn't know we had this many territories 😮

[@kaasappel123]

Imperialism you know

[@julianshepherd2038]

Terrible education system

[@erdfs6303]

@@kaasappel123 how imperialist is it to claim uninhabited islands covered in bird shit?

[@kaasappel123]

@@erdfs6303 like Guam?

[@kaasappel123]

@@erdfs6303 Imperialism is a policy or ideology of extending the rule over peoples and other countries,[2] for extending political and economic access, power and control, Wikipedia search it

[@An-Orange-Fox]

Good video !!

[@pearlofthedarkage]

Here I thought guano was specific to bats, but according to Google it's both bats and _seabirds_ (not all birds). Glad I looked that up.

[@Tarom456]

Just you wait till Sheldon Cooper hears about that! "Fun with flags" was his idea all along!

[@blindedbliss]

Missing the citation link to CGP greys video in the description.

[@jonathantatler]

Wales has the best flag, they have a DRAGON on theirs, you can't get better than a dragon 😀

[@PsychoSavager289]

Bhutan has a thunder dragon on its flag. Thunder dragon beats regular dragon.

[@thecone87]

...okay?

[@pplord3170]

@@PsychoSavager289 um it the dragon on the Welsh flag is a fire dragon named Draig, fire>thunder imo

[@theconqueringram5295]

A great video about the overseas territories of the US and yes, things could be more fair between these territories and the government.

[@bcaiko]

You guys forgot the beaver on the back of the Oregon flag on your survey. That’s the best part of the flag.

[@random123games6]

Hi from the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan)!

[@dylanshaffer2184]

Do you think the CNMI should join the union as a state?

[@StephySon]

Hello from New York. I hope to see you become a state soon. Imagine the bigots in the senate having a heart attack seeing Chamorro or Asian senators from a state far out in the pacific hehe

[@Enfant666Terrible]

The US sending war ships in foreign waters, claiming they were attacked and using that claimed attack as a pretense for war is probably their longest and proudest tradition.

[@Julianna.Domina]

We do love avenging boats

[@42meep13]

If I recall correctly the Territories right to vote in federal elections was decided in a supreme court case which in decision stated that it should only stand for a time, because of something to do with 'vastly different culture' or something. Said case it should be noted, was decided by the same court that did the case that segregated US Schools. That decision was mean by those justices to be permanent, however, that is the one that has been removed.

[@napoleonibonaparte7198]

Like France and Britain as Luke and Leia standing there and smiling at the US as Rey on Tatooine. “I’m America... American Empire.*

[@hanjru]

I suddenly want to see a video of Jack just cursing.

[@martin13145]

I'm dissapointed that there was no reference to Better Call Saul in a video about American Samoa.

[@napoleonibonaparte7198]

The Spanish-American War is not necessarily the first overseas conflict they were in. The Barbary Wars was the first conflict where US soldiers landed on foreign shores. The US didn’t join the conflict out of sympathy. The president, McKinley, was a war hawk and wanted an empire. Sure, the US public then sympathised, but not the administration.

[@ladycthuwu]

I think that the territories should be free to choose their own fates, be that remain a territory, become a state, or become independent. I do think that they should, collectively, should have two senators and a representative to ensure that the territories as a whole have some voice.

[@Vienna3080]

Little fun fact about the plight of the Natives of the Philippines and Cuba: Once the US won the war they destroyed the Cuban and Philippines fighters and the US occupied the entire Cuban Island under a military government for 2 years

[@StephySon]

At least The Philippines gained their independence. Cuba was used as a toy until the July 26th revolution began

[@cat_daddy]

If we still had the Philippines our population would be 33% bigger!

[@mistergnat638]

@@StephySon Cuba is still a toy for its eulers

[@StephySon]

@@mistergnat638 I mean it’s not a colonial toy for Spain or the U.S but the precious Castro administrations are another story

[@familyandfriends3519]

@@StephySon Didn't Cuba get independence from Spain in 1898 by the treaty of Paris the USA just occupied like Haiti

[@chuave152]

Shoutout to Nate The Lawyer who made this same video yesterday lol.

[@JamieElli]

The uninhabited territories should probably be either combined with the nearest state or inhabited territory or combined into 1 Pacific and 1 Caribbean territory. The inhabited territories should be given a choice between statehood, independence, or modified conditions to be approved by congress.

[@angelsaavedra633]

If no one lives on those territories how would they choose?

[@hsunteik]

I feel like buying some of those territories...

[@Yasinburak1992]

Britain: I’m proud of my boy 🥲

[@mr.coolmug3181]

The enormity of American flags is unparalleled.

[@kingdmind]

5:01 *there is no evidence on wether Spain attacked the USS Maine to retaliate due to assisting the cuban people or the US planned its destruction to justify itself joining the war for its own gain, especially since the US has done so before to either provoke an enemy or plan a situation to justify attacking or joining a war. 5:12 With the Paris Act, the US got these spanish colonies, but also Cuba to be its protectorate, but was given independence a few years later. This was moreso to continue its influence on the Island rather than really protect Cuba. Even after independence, the countries remained with close relations, up until the Cuban Revolution. The Philippines took a long time to gain independence as it wasn’t even planned. The Filipino people thought that when the US got involved with the Spanish, this would mean they could finally become an independent nation and cut ties with Spain thanks to their help after already years of fighting against their colonial rulers, but instead they just became a colony of the US after the end of the Spanish-American War, with practically zero rights. Similarly, this happened in Puerto Rico and Guam. I can say that both filipino and puertorican peoples fought for their independence, but the filipinos had a much bloodier time against the US, and eventually gained their independence decades later after US rule. The opposite happened in Puerto Rico, where after decades of fighting against colonial rule with independence movements and organizations all around, after the first elected puertorican governor got into power in the mid-20th Century, the Estado Libre Asociado or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico was established, mostly to stop the independence movements and to appease to the United Nations with the start of the decolonization era. However the Commonwealth was nothing of a commonwealth really, it’s just a different name for what it really is: a colony. The puertorican people gained more rights, but are still second class citizens on the Island, unless they move to the US, (a great incentive to migrate to the mainland and deteriorate the success of the Island) and can only vote for their own primaries, governor, and future status in relation to the US. Statehood has won several times in the past, but nothing has changed as the Supreme Court never acknowledges our own democratic vote, since as a colony, all power ultimately belongs to the United States, and no matter what Puerto Rico and its people want to do, it has to abide to the US’ appeasement, and that doesn’t. I cannot speak for the chamorro people as I do not know enough of Guam’s relations and history pre and post Spanish-American War. What I can say for Guam is that similar things happened to the chamorro people with the Spanish and now as a US colony. I’d like to go more in-depth, but I do not know more specific details. At the end of the day, the chamorro and puertorican people have a lot in common with the United States, and I hope together we can make ourselves heard to our governemt so they can hear what the people want and not just remain ignorant to their colonial democracies, unless it can benefit them, which is a common topic only when talking about presidential votes and how they can change, rather than for the sake of *listening to democracy.*

[@killertortoise1]

Would be good to see statehood for these places.

[@boywonder3919]

The issue for AS is that statehood we equate to a cultural genocide. The US has gone to great lengths to avoid this hence AS unique relationship to the US.

[@francisvaofanua6947]

True. We’d prefer to remain a territory. We’ll be under the protection of the U.S as well as the benefits at the same time maintain our culture.

[@UTubeTulip]

This might come as a surprise but the Mariana Islands are pronounced like Mariana, not Marina.

[@Ermacc187]

Guano balls! Collect the whole set!

[@briansmith9439]

Mar-i-AN-us islands, but nice try. Great vid.

[@catzip99]

/Mary-on-us/ is how it always sounded to me

[@richard1113]

Thank you! It was nails on a chalkboard listening to this dolt say "Marine-as Islands".

[@ThreePointOneFou]

6:49 The Northern MAH-ree-AN-uh Islands, not "Marina".

[@zoibydalobster22]

When America has a bigger empire than Britain does...

[@mark63424able]

the turntables

[@M0R7_7]

Actually that’s not true, uk still has the most over sea territory’s in the world

[@seanchadwick9036]

The Mariana is not pronounced ma ree na, it’s pronounced ma ree ana. The second a is pronounced with a short a sound like in dawn, lawn, and fawn.

[@sackeshi]

Which state has the best flag? Not any of the State seal on it. Also MD is the best. Let the territories vote for statehood or independance.

[@darkyada71]

French territories when

[@giannidellea]

I would't say that not be able to vote is "not much". If you just lack one thing but that thing is civil wright I'll say It's a pretty big difference. You never hear prisoners saying "it's pretty much as being free but for the fact I'm not allowed to go out"

[@Ellipsis115]

1:12 only online... Nice? Lol

[@usauk3396]

It is not Johnson atoll it is Johnston atoll. Founded by Captain Charles Johnston. The surname Johnston is Scottish while Johnson is English.

[@michaelmayhem350]

An interesting point you missed is Puerto Ricans not being able to vote got presidents is limited to the island of Puerto Rico. The millions that have fled the island for mainland usa. They get full US citizen rights including voting for a president, just by virtue of changing their registered address to one in the mainland instead of PR.

[@threecards333]

Presidential votes are based on state residency (and any other federal votes). It is the location of residency which is the determining factor rather than birth or identity. I was born and raised in Washington state, but have never voted there I registered to vote in NM in undergrad and Indiana in grad school. If I went to school in Puerto Rico or Guam then I would not be voting in Federal elections.

[@berendoldenburger]

Are you able to make a video about French Overseas Territories? I think the French are the only nation that has strongly held onto their colonies with such firm grip to even standardise road design. It’s identical to drive on an Autoroute in France as it is in New Caledonia or Guadeloupe for example.

[@thesoupin8or673]

Seems to me like a shit deal, but what do I know? Let the inhabitants vote on it: independence, statehood, or the current arrangement

[@appleducky5234]

Puerto Rico, has already filed to become a state by 2025 (as well as DC), but US congress is taking their sweet old time introducing them to the union. The other four inhabited territories have populations much smaller than any state in the union, two of them being smaller than 60,000 the number specified by the NW ordinance for a territory to have before becoming a state. (but the NW ordinance of 1785 is outdated and doesn't apply to Island territories) I don't know that DC which was designated a federal district really has the right to become a state, It was carved out of Maryland too so I could imagine that as an argument against it, but the US congress is stalling the vote on Puerto Rico's state hood for no good reason as I see it.

[@kingdmind]

@@appleducky5234 correction, Puerto Rico isn’t set to become a state yet even until 2025. Bills have been proposed as recently as March of this year to Congress, but the bill has been divisive between senators. Change is expected during these years, but it isn’t guaranteed

[@A.Mayflower127]

Puerto Rico should be a state. The Northern Mariana Islands and Guam should become a single political entity and that SPE should become a state. The Virgin Islands and American Samoa should become incorporated organized commonwealth. All of the US Minor Outlying Islands in Polynesia and Micronesia should become a part of either The SPE of Guam and NMI or Hawaii. Palmyra Atoll should stay as is

[@yesid17]

re your question at the end, as a someone with many boricua friends, and as an indigenous person I do not want statehood for Puerto Rico. Tbh from what my boricua friends tell me US statehood is associated with the far right on the island. What I really want is an update to our governmental software: a new constitution. Worldwide the average lifespan of a constitution is only 17 years, while the US has famously had the same constitution for almost 250 years. Frankly as an indigenous person I want to see myself and my nation to be represented in the government-we rarely talk about the US's colonies ("territories") but when we do we rarely mention the ones on the mainland-I want decolonization in the Americas. I hope something like Bolivia's constitution can take the place of the US's current one.

[@angelsaavedra633]

it is hard to change the U.S. constitution

[@Goly230]

I'm Puerto Rican and I support Puerto Rico's Independence. We could be in a better state, politically, economically, culturally and socially if we were independent. Statehood, although would come with more federal funds, would just bring that. We already have a unfair and baseless reputation for being to dependent of the US, why make it worse? And anyways, the US can't treat their black, latino, native and immigrant populations with respect, and with history teaching us that the treatment to us was horrible as well, what would guarantee that we wouldn't continue to be treated as Second Class Citizens?

[@averagejoe6031]

CGP Grey gets freebooted

[@bocbinsgames6745]

Early Catch

[@napoleonibonaparte7198]

Fun Fact: Nebraska is the only state that has a unicameral legislature.

[@visorij3374]

5:22 we also took over Cuba

[@familyandfriends3519]

Cuba got independence from Spain in 1898 from treaty of Paris USA just occupied it like Haiti

[@ryanvargas4889]

Guano gang!

[@crazyrobots6565]

I think 3 states should be added to the US: 1. Washington, DC. 2. Puerto Rico 3. US Overseas Territories (being all other inhabited Territories).

[@Greg31558]

I'd be perfectly fine with Puerto Rico becoming a state if they want it. As for DC, the problem with them is that the whole point of DC is that be the capital but not within any of the states. If we really want to give the people of DC statehood, I'd be much more in favor of simply giving that land back to Maryland (who I believe originally owned it), let Washington be a city in that state, and then get some other state to give up a little land for a new capital. This position has nothing to do with my desire to relocate all the politicians to a remote island off of Alaska, that's just a fringe benefit.

[@crazyrobots6565]

@@Greg31558 yes, Maryland did originally own it. But Washington has grown big enough, in my opinion, to be a straw of ts own. It is more populous than Wyoming and Vermont and will soon have a ledger population than North Dakota. And the official Mayor of Washington, DC proposal for statehood would leave a "federal enclave" which is basically just federal government buildings and the roads between them. At minimum, I think DC residents ought to have the right to representation in Congress. I'm okay with then rejoining Maryland, but idk if Maryland and/or DC wants that. The fact that there are American citizens who pay taxes but don't have the right to vote is ridiculous. And here's the thing, too. A wealthy person from, say the US Virgin islands, could move to a state for 6 months then move back to the US Virgin Islands and retain their right to vote in federal and state elections in that state they last resided in. Ridiculous. There are places in the United States where a wealthy person, if they can afford it, can buy their right to vote by establishing residency in a US state.

[@jonahstoehr3637]

Politicians on both sides seem to forget or ignore that fact that the Constitution is nearly 300 years old and a bit out of date with modern reality. You have to remember that when the Constitution was written the US was little more then a discount Holy Romen Empire, in that is was a disunited confederation of states who all were working for themselves. Establishing D.C. as a separated entity was meant to prevent any one state from gaining to much power over the others.

[@Hadar1991]

In my opinion far more sense would have a State of Micronesia consisting of Guam (US), Northern Mariana Islands (US), Wake Island (US) and theoretically independent countries but practically US vassals Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia and Palau (all gained independence from US in 1979), but it may not be politically feasible. As for the DC goes, I would just give it back to Maryland - this way DC would not swing US Senate heavily left. In may opinion Republicans will not vote for DC statehood under any circumstances but may support giving it back to Maryland.

[@Gorilder]

Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Guam, the northern Marianas, and American Samoa (if they change that bit about their territory being clan held... it makes no sense that someone from Pogo Pogo can go to New York or San Juan and get a home but someone from New York or San Juan can't got to Pogo Pogo and get a home if Statehood is on the table)... But yeah all of those should be States (if American Samoa changes that one little bit). DC was made to be a non-state district so no it shouldn't... we'll probably have some new states form out of existing ones here (Oregon and Washington are talking about breaking up ). But this is ofc after all of them vote for it, the decision to be a State, remain as a territory, or become independent (or a compact nation) should be entirely with the territories in question.

[@michaelgreen1515]

Really they wanted Cuba, there is also controversy as to who actually sunk the Maine. Plus the Filipinos weren't exactly impressed with the outcome of the Spanish-American war, as you forgot to mention that it led directly to the Philippines-American war and it took them a long time to get free!

[@trent6319]

and the Philipines-American war was bloodier and longer than the Span-amer war

[@familyandfriends3519]

Who did Cuba get independence from

[@seasong7655]

Imagine someone moving there lol

[@ArchieWilsonVocalist]

As a British person, I'm letting you know that Hawaii has the best state flag

[@thecone87]

And the longest life expectancy. Coincidence? *There's no such thing.*

[@StephySon]

Your biased because the Union Jack is in the corner of it 😝

[@luisduron2722]

2022

[@katsomeday1]

Serrana Bank and Bajo Nuevo Bank are controlled by Colombia, though the US claims them.

[@nightbotisahuman7388]

You can say it "bird poop" and it cost you not to be demonetized.

[@st0ox]

How to hide an empire?

[@bryantnance8696]

The American revolution took place in the 18th century not the 17th. That would put the revolution in the 1600’s.

[@kaasappel123]

Its hard you know that too!

[@bryantnance8696]

@@kaasappel123 If only there was a global search network to look up such facts.

[@richardcutts196]

We should have clamed the entire Marianas instead of just Guam. They are pronounced Mary onna's.

[@asdf3568]

America: Do as we say, not as we do

[@gabbihoopes5337]

if ca doesn’t win the us flag survey i’ll personally find everyone who bought a bear flag hoodie in 2015 and yell at them

[@kightsun]

No income tax is nice

[@stegi56]

no one can really say no to regular $1200 checks and having the US military on their side

[@justanotheremptychannel2472]

If you knew how US screwed Puerto Rico

[@vortexgen1]

Puerto Rico, is today, in the works to become a state. It has a bill in the works in Congress, this very day and working it's way through the government as I'm writing this. I don't know how long this could take before Puerto Rico has statehood. D.C. is also trying for statehood as well and a lot of time the government will allow 2 states to enter easier than 1. Just look at Alaska and Hawaii. Both became states in 1959 about 6 months apart.

[@angelsaavedra633]

Yeah think I think Puerto Rico has a better chance of because a state then D.C.

[@Coracora-he9pz]

So what? It ain’t the first PR statehood bill in congress. It will die on Congress like all of the previous statehood bills, and that’s a good thing:)

[@familyandfriends3519]

@@angelsaavedra633 Then Puerto Ricans aren't Spanish and Hispanic and Latino until given back to Spain and getting independence only from Spain they are fake Hispanics who speak fake Spanish

[@ILikeVideos62]

The United States Not a superpower, but a pooperpower

[@Lando-kx6so]

colonies**

[@uwbadger79]

It's the Mar -eeee-ana islands, not Marina

[@user-qi6zv2el3o]

Hello how are you gentlemen I want to work in the USA I am from abroad and I need your help

[@dylanshaffer2184]

I think the territories should become states, what do you all think?

[@theadam7598]

The Northern Mariana Islands voted to be part of the United States.

[@spoikins]

All the territories that have their own governors/government should seek statehood, in my opinion. Non-voting delegates to our House of Reps? That’s like making adults sit at the kids table during family dinner. Give them the vote.

[@Srikumar_]

C.G.P Grey vibs!

[@cynthiakazmierzski8144]

They should rename it the Northern Marijuana Islands and legalize it to boost tourism.

[@lolb1221]

👍

[@lugaidster]

If you ask me, it's a shit deal. They don't get to vote on the federal government policies but are subjected to their jurisdiction. Seems like shit to me.

[@jackcsoo]

Marjorie Taylor greene need to watch this video to educate herself on the US territories.

[@dhruvparapurath7967]

America: Mom have I made you proud Mom🇬🇧: Yes son :)

[@matthewmclean9012]

I mean technically it would be "mum" since we say that in the uk 😂

[@dhruvparapurath7967]

@@matthewmclean9012 ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@ryanmcfall1127]

I think that Puerto Rico should become a state and all the territories east of Mexico should be part of it. and all the territories west of Mexico should be part of Hawaii

[@Goly230]

Ummm, no, thank you. Full independence for Puerto Rico, please.

[@justinus8608]

@@Goly230 i mean we voted for statehood

[@Goly230]

No. There was a nonbinding Yes or No plebiscite for Statehood were a simple majority of 52% voted yes. Based on the Territorial Clause of the US Constitution, there has to be an overwhelming majority support (in a binding referendum or plebiscite) for PR to considered Statehood. And watch that I didn't say granted but CONSIDERED, because if we look at the Insular Cases, we see that PR 🇵🇷 is "unincorporated territory of the US", which means that, just like we're not "destined" by the metropolis to be an Independent country, neither are we to be "destined" for Statehood. So, so close of, unless the Statehood supporters really get going for the Supreme Court to declare unconstitutional The Insular Cases, there really isn't a case for Statehood to be made, because the US will just continue to ignore us, have justification to treat us like shit, all the while they remind us that without them we wouldn't have our (crippling) way and standard of life and living.

[@HI-gj1qn]

@@Goly230 then u will be like the cubans or dominicans taking a boat 🛶 to florida.

[@Goly230]

@@HI-gj1qn ummm no. We would be Puerto Ricans living in Puerto Rico without the US trying to privatize and fuck everything over. 💁🏽‍♂️

[@theharbingerofconflation]

fertilizer

[@alejandro_mery]

didn't the Korean war also began with a US ship bring (allegedly) sank?

[@sergeantsmiley6897]

I think that you are thinking of Vietnam not Korea.

[@justanotheremptychannel2472]

So many sunk ships, it almost looks suspicious

[@spencersfarm]

Seems the USA Empire is as far-flung as the (remaining) British Empire. The USA baulks at admitting these territories are colonies, which is whatthey are. The UK changed the description of its colonies a few times, now calling the Overseas Territories. The UN considers them colonies; but the USA has used its clout to remove (some of) its colonies from the UN's list.

[@Rumptzsh8kr]

Dude the way you pronounce "Mariana" is soooooooooooooo wrong. We lived there for 4 1/2 years. I always thought Guam was incorporated as my wife had to go there to get her US Citizenship. The overseas territories get a pretty sweet deal from the Federal Govt. Unfortunately, this means a lot of underregulated cash and a lot of corruption. Beautiful place! 10 out 10 would recommend everyone to spend a few years here! Be prepared for strange times.

[@gpz6063]

Johnny Harris??

[@cartermoberg3092]

Any flag with a blue background and the sate seal is just plain bad

[@User-cx8bb]

Where is Alaska?

[@reggie69.]

State