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Influences on Pohnpei
Spanish influences on Pohnpei
How did the Spanish rule come to Pohnpei?
Spanish rule in Pohnpei came about because of religious and national honor. The Spanish rulers were very proud of their country, that they brought their faith and government with them. The Spanish rulers came with their priests and government leaders or governors.

How did the Spanish government leaders, and religious leaders come to Pohnpei?
The Spaniards came on the Molina in 1887 and anchored at the port in Pohnpei. The name of the first Spanish governor to Pohnpei was Governor Isidro Possadillo.

What religion did the Spanish government, and religious leaders bring to Pohnpei?
The Spanish government leaders also brought the Catholic priests when they first arrived in Pohnpei. The Spanish ruled the island of Pohnpei from 1887 to 1899. (Hezel, F. 1995).

    During the Spanish era, most of the people of Pohnpei were working on their own lands for private needs, and for giving tributes to their Chiefs. The Spanish government asked the people to work for them to build the colony in Mesenieng, literal meaning in Pohnpeian facing the wind.

    The Spanish leaders wanted to build a wall around the colony. Why do you think they wanted to build a wall surrounding the colony? The Spaniards wanted to protect the colony from the Pohnpeians. There were series of uprisings in Pohnpei in 1887, 1890, and in 1898.

What caused the three uprisings in Pohnpei?
The first uprising took place in 1887 after the traditional leaders in Net and Sokehs refused to show up at the governor's place. the Spanish governor sent government officials to capture the traditional leaders, to their surprise found themselves ambushed by the Pohnpeians. Thus the first uprising ended with the assassination of the first Spanish governor and his officials.

What caused the second uprising?
The Catholic missionaries built a Catholic church next to the Protestant mission in Ohwa. This made the Protestant people of Madolenimw very furious, and started the second uprising. The people of Madolenihmw experienced fears of war, and other bad results of wars. The third uprising occurred when a Protestant was found dead in Mwand, U. They suspected that Soulik en Awak was responsible for the murder. This case caused the separation between the people of U, the northern section including Mwand Islands supported the Protestants, and Awak being a Catholic section was fighting to support the Catholics and the Spaniards.The Catholics of Net, and Sokehs backed up the people of Awak and finally this uprising ended. The more serious war between the United States and Spain had caused Spain to leave the islands in 1899.

Pohnpei Map
The Spanish Wall
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