Show U S territories possessions difficult to define it ts is difficult to define defene satisfactorily the difference between a territory and a possession of the united states alaska and hawaii are according to an official in the division ot of territories and island possessions full fledged territories of the united states puerto rico is also a territory but Us its finances are handled in a slightly different way in alaska and hawaii all of the internal revenue is collected and paid into the united states treasury and appropriations ade in revenue of puerto rico is collected and paid into a separate fund under the securities act the term territory means alaska hawaii the philippine islands puerto rico the canal zone the virgin islands and insular possessions of the united states the canal zone is administered by the war department several 0 of the other islands are under the jurisdiction of the navy department the district ot of columbia Is part ot of the united states and is not a territory but a district |