What is noted as the first amphibious landing by the Marine Corps?

The correct answer highlights the first significant amphibious landing conducted by the Marine Corps, which is New Providence, Bahamas, in 1776. This operation is crucial in the history of the Marine Corps, demonstrating the effective combination of naval and ground forces to achieve strategic objectives in enemy territory. It marked the beginning of the use of amphibious assault tactics that would become a hallmark of Marine operations.

The other choices represent important campaigns in Marine Corps history but do not denote the first amphibious landing. Guadalcanal, for example, was a major campaign during World War II and a turning point in the Pacific Theater, but it followed the initial amphibious landings by nearly 170 years. Similarly, Haiti refers to a landing that occurred in the 1915 intervention, while Saipan was part of the larger battles in the Pacific that occurred in 1944. Each of these events showcased the evolution and effectiveness of amphibious operations but came after the foundational amphibious assault in New Providence.