On June 21, 1898, the United States
captured Guam in a bloodless landing during the Spanish–American War. The island was ceded to the United States by
Spain on April 11, 1899, by the
Treaty of Paris. On December 23, 1898, Guam was placed under the administration of the United States Department of the Navy by President
William McKinley for military protection and government. Between the American capture of Guam and installation of a Naval Governor in August 1899, there was a flux in governance of the island. In 1922, the Naval Government banned the Chamorro language in schools and workplaces and destroyed all Chamorro dictionaries. Between 1941 and 1944, the island was under occupation by
Imperial Japanese forces during
World War II. In 1946, the seal of Guam was approved by Naval Governor
Charles Alan Pownall. Later on February 9, 1948, the current flag of the territory was adopted. On August 1, 1950, the
Guam Organic Act of 1950 was signed into law by President
Harry S. Truman, making Guam an organized territory. ==See also==