{"id":161354,"date":"2024-10-25T13:50:49","date_gmt":"2024-10-25T13:50:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2024\/10\/25\/the-u-s-empire-was-built-on-bird-dung\/"},"modified":"2024-10-25T13:50:49","modified_gmt":"2024-10-25T13:50:49","slug":"the-u-s-empire-was-built-on-bird-dung","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2024\/10\/25\/the-u-s-empire-was-built-on-bird-dung\/","title":{"rendered":"The U.S. empire was built on bird dung"},"content":{"rendered":"
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In December 1855 and January 1856, a trio of vessels set sail from the United States to Jarvis and Baker islands, coral atolls in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The ships carried representatives from the newly formed American Guano Company and a guano expert tasked with examining the quality of the islands\u2019 bird poop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After estimating the quantity of guano available and taking samples, the entourage claimed the islands in the name of the company and the United States. That move marked the country\u2019s first effort to acquire territory overseas.<\/p>\n\n\n