American Samoa

Categories: CIA World Factbook cleanup | Oceanic countries | American Samoa | Insular areas of the United States | Oceanic dependencies

American Samoa (Samoan: Amerika Samoa) is an unorganized, unincorporated territory of the United States in the South Pacific Ocean, to the East of the larger state of Samoa.

History

Originally inhabited as early as 1000 BC, 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. (see History of Samoa for more.) 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 in 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 Manu‘a in 1904. During World War II, U.S. Marines in American Samoa, outnumbering the local population, had 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 on July 1, 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 the country.

Trivia

• American Samoa is the location of Rose Atoll, the southernmost point in the United States (if insular areas and territories are included); see extreme points for more information).
• Goods manufactured in territories or protectorates of the United States, 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 United States nationals, but not United States citizens. This is virtually 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 on April 11, 2001.

Map

See also

Government

• List of American Samoa Governors
• Elections in American_Samoa

Sports

• American Samoa at the 2000 Summer Olympics
• American Samoa at the 2000 Summer Olympics
• American Samoa national rugby league team
• American Samoa national soccer team

CIA Factbook Data

From the CIA World Factbook 2000:

• Geography of American Samoa
• Demographics of American Samoa
• Politics of American Samoa
• Economy of American Samoa
• Communications in American Samoa
• Transportation in American Samoa
• Military: Defense is the responsibility of the US

External links

• CIA - The World Factbook -- American Samoa - CIA's Factbook on American Samoa
• 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

ca:Samoa Nord-americana da:Amerikansk Samoa de:Amerikanisch-Samoa et:Ameerika Samoa es:Samoa Americana fr:Samoa américaines id:Samoa Amerika is:Bandaríska Samóa he:סמואה האמריקאית lv:Austrumsamoa lt:Amerikos Samoa hu:Amerikai-Szamoa mk:Американска Самоа nl:Amerikaans-Samoa ja:アメリカ領サモア no:Amerikansk Samoa nn:Amerikansk Samoa pl:Samoa Amerykańskie pt:Samoa Americana ru:Американское Самоа sm:Amerika Samoa simple:American Samoa sk:Americká Samoa sl:Ameriška Samoa fi:Amerikan Samoa sv:Amerikanska Samoa uk:Американське Самоа zh:美屬薩摩亞