18 ago 1856 ano - Guano Islands Act

Descrição:

An act passed by Congress granting the US authority to annex any unclaimed islands discovered to contain guano. This qualification existed because guano is a potent fertilizer, as well as being a source of saltpeter, an ingredient of gunpowder. While the US had claimed upwards of 200 islands from this act, it has since withdrawn all of those claims save ten. These islands include Baker Island, Howler Island, Jarvis Island, Midway Atoll, Johnston Atoll, Navassa Island, and Kingman Reef. They are part of a group of US islands known as the US Minor Outlying Islands. Only Midway Atoll is inhabited today, with just 40 residents.