American Samoa

Amerika Samoa
American Samoa

Flag of American Samoa Coat of Arms of American Samoa
National motto: Samoa, Muamua Le Atua (Samoa, Let God Be First)
Principal languages	Samoan, English
Capital	Pago Pago
Governor	Togiola Tulafono
Area  - Total	Ranked 226th 199 km²
Population  - Total (2003)  - Density	Ranked 203rd 70,260 353/km²
Currency	U.S. dollar
Time zone	Universal Time -11
National anthem	Amerika Samoa
Internet TLD	.as
Country Calling Code	+1-684

American Samoa is an unorganized, incorporated territory of the United States located in the South Pacific Ocean southeast of the sovereign state of Samoa. The main (largest and most populous) island is Tutuila, with the Manu‘a Islands, Rose Atoll, and Swains Island also included in the territory. American Samoa is part of the Samoan Islands chain, located west of the Cook Islands, north of Tonga, and some 500 km south of Tokelau. To the west are the islands of the Wallis and Futuna group.

History

Originally inhabited as early as 1000 B.C.E., Samoa was reached by European explorers in the 18th century.

International rivalries in the latter half of the 19th century were settled by an 1899 Treaty of Berlin in which Germany and the U.S. divided the Samoan archipelago. The U.S. formally occupied its portion — a smaller group of eastern islands with the noted harbor of Pago Pago — the following year. The western islands are now the independent state of Samoa.

After the U.S. took possesion of American Samoa, the U.S. Navy built a coaling station on Pago Pago Bay for its Pacific Squadron and appointed a local Secretary. The navy secured a Deed of Cession of Tutuila in 1900 and a Deed of Cession of Manua in 1904. The last sovereign of Manua, the Tui Manua Elisala, was forced to sign a Deed of Cession of Manuʻa following a series of U.S. Naval trials, known as the "Trial of the Ipu," in Pago Pago, Taʻu, and aboard a Pacific Squadron gunboat.

During World War II, U.S. Marines in American Samoa outnumbered the local population, having a huge cultural influence. After the war, Organic Act 4500, a U.S. Department of Interior-sponsored attempt to incorporate American Samoa, was defeated in Congress, primarily through the efforts of American Samoan chiefs, led by Tuiasosopo Mariota. These chiefs' efforts led to the creation of a local legislature, the American Samoa Fono.

In time, the Navy-appointed governor was replaced by a locally elected one. Although technically considered "unorganized" in that the U.S. Congress has not passed an Organic Act for the territory, American Samoa is self-governing under a constitution that became effective in 1967. The U.S. Territory of American Samoa is on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories, a listing which is disputed by territorial government officials.

Fatu Rock (right) and Futi Rock (left), islets on the reef of Tutuila at the entrance to Pago Pago Harbor (seen behind Fatu)

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Trivia

• American Samoa is the location of Rose Atoll, the southernmost point in the U.S. (if insular areas and territories are included).
• Goods manufactured in territories or protectorates of the U.S., including American Samoa, can be labeled "Made in the USA."
• About 30 ethnic Samoans, many from American Samoa, currently play in the National Football League. It has been estimated that a Samoan male (either an American Samoan, or a Samoan living in the 50 United States) is 40 times more likely to play in the NFL than a non-Samoan American. A number have also ventured into professional wrestling.
• Persons born in American Samoa are U.S. nationals, but not U.S. citizens. This is the only circumstance under which an individual would be one and not the other.
• The American Samoa national soccer team holds an unwanted world record in international soccer—the record defeat in an international match, a 31-0 crushing by Australia in 2001.

Map

External links

Wikinews has related news:

American Samoa

• CIA - The World Factbook — American Samoa - CIA's Factbook on American Samoa
• [1]"The Passive Resistance of Samoans to US and Other Colonialisms", article in "Sovereignty Matters", ed. Joanne Barker, University of Nebraska Press, 2005.
• History of American Samoa- Essay which looks at the history of the territory from ancient to more modern times.
• Jane's American Samoa Page
• Library of Congress Portals of the World - American Samoa - Library of Congress resource which provides links to resources on American Samoa.
• Map of American Samoa - Map showing the basic layout of American Samoa.
• Revised Constitution of American Samoa - Provides the text of the constition of American Samoa.
• The Official Webpage of the American Samoa Government - Lists information on the territorial government including officials and recent legislation.
• United Nations Decolonization Papers - Online United Nations Decolonization Documents including current and past Working Papers on American Samoa
• ChooHoo! - An online community for Samoans. Features include forums, chat, blogs, etc.
• Rulers.org — American_samoa List of rulers for American Samoa

Credits

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• History of "American Samoa"

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