6. The Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
Following World War II, the United States oversaw several Micronesian islands under a United Nations trust territory arrangement. For decades, American administration shaped local governance and infrastructure. Gradually, these islands—now known as Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands—each took their own path to independence or formal association with the U.S. Their evolving relationships reflect a complex legacy.
