The American Samoa islands are closer to Northeast Australia than to the mainland of America. It's about 2,575 miles away from the Hawaiian islands and 6,012 miles away from mainland America. The United States has a Protectorate imperialism over these islands.
After the Spanish-American war, America acquired access to many islands including the Philippines, Hawaii, Guam, Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Panama Canal zone, and more. In 1899, the Samoa's were split with America and Germany. The islands were a valuable naval base for refueling American ships travelling to Asia. The American government also wanted to take over the Samoa's to spread American culture before Germany could do the same. The U.S decided it couldn't work to have both Germany and America controlling the islands. They claimed they had found the Samoa's first, even though Germany set foot on the islands before America. America threatened Germany and created tension.
To completely dominate Samoa, America created civil war in the island. America manipulated out two kings. One of them, America was very friendly with and bribed to be on their side, and the other Germany sided with. With the two kings against each other, America told Germany that if the king on America's side won, America would gain control. The American side won, but a truce was declared. Germany got Western Samoa and America took the Eastern side. All Samoans lost power.
America tried to colonize Samoa. American teachers and missionaries taught American culture, Christianity, the English language, and democratic values. The Samoans were considered "too Asian" to be granted citizenship. The Mau Movement of the 1960's fought for Samoan rights. Today, the Samoans are allowed to govern themselves, but America still has a Protectorate Imperialism with the American Samoa's, allowing American's access to the natural resources.
After the Spanish-American war, America acquired access to many islands including the Philippines, Hawaii, Guam, Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Panama Canal zone, and more. In 1899, the Samoa's were split with America and Germany. The islands were a valuable naval base for refueling American ships travelling to Asia. The American government also wanted to take over the Samoa's to spread American culture before Germany could do the same. The U.S decided it couldn't work to have both Germany and America controlling the islands. They claimed they had found the Samoa's first, even though Germany set foot on the islands before America. America threatened Germany and created tension.
To completely dominate Samoa, America created civil war in the island. America manipulated out two kings. One of them, America was very friendly with and bribed to be on their side, and the other Germany sided with. With the two kings against each other, America told Germany that if the king on America's side won, America would gain control. The American side won, but a truce was declared. Germany got Western Samoa and America took the Eastern side. All Samoans lost power.
America tried to colonize Samoa. American teachers and missionaries taught American culture, Christianity, the English language, and democratic values. The Samoans were considered "too Asian" to be granted citizenship. The Mau Movement of the 1960's fought for Samoan rights. Today, the Samoans are allowed to govern themselves, but America still has a Protectorate Imperialism with the American Samoa's, allowing American's access to the natural resources.
Sources:
www.bisd.net/cms/lib02/.../209/AMERICAN%20IMPERIALISM.pptx
(This was a PowerPoint I found online. EasyBib couldn't recognize it and no author was listed.)