American Samoa - Politics, Administrative divisions, Geography, Economy, Demographics, Culture, The Origin of Samoa

Local name Sao Paulo de Loanda (Portuguese), formerly also Loanda

Timezone GMT -11 Area 197 km²/76 sq mi population total (2002e) 62 000 Capital Fagatogo Languages English (official), Samoan Physical features Located in the CS Pacific Ocean, some 3500 km/2175 mi N of New Zealand; five principal volcanic islands (including Tutuila, Aunu'u, Ofu, Olosega, Ta'u, Rose, Swains I) and two coral atolls; main island, Tutuila, 109 km²/42 sq mi, rises to 653 m/2142 ft; islands mostly hilly, with large areas covered by thick bush and forest. Climate Tropical maritime climate; average annual temperatures 28°C (Jan), 27°C (Jul) in Fagatogo; plentiful rainfall; rainy season (Nov–Apr); dry season (May–Oct); average annual rainfall 5000 mm/200 in; state of emergency declared after heavy rains caused severe flooding over much of the island, May 2003. Currency 1 US Dollar (USD) = 100 cents Economy Principal crops, taro, breadfruit, yams, bananas, coconuts; tuna fishing; local inshore fishing, handicrafts. GDP (2000e) $500 mn, per capita $8000 History US acquired rights to American Samoa in 1899 and the islands were ceded by their chiefs, 1900–25; now an unincorporated territory of the USA, administered by the Department of the Interior; bicameral legislature established, 1948, comprising Senate and House of Representatives. font-size: 95%;">

(Flag) (Seal)
National motto: Samoa, Muamua Le Atua (Samoa, Let God Be First)
Official languages	English, Samoan
Capital	Fagatogo
Head of State	George W. Bush
Governor	Togiola Tulafono
Area  - Total  - % water	Ranked 212th 199 km² (77.3 sq. mi) 0%
Population  - Total (2005)  - Density	Ranked 204th 64,869 353/km² (914/sq. mi)
Currency	USD
Time zone	UTC -11 (no DST)
National anthem	Amerika Samoa
Internet TLD	.as
Calling Code	+1 684
Fatu Rock (right) and Futi Rock (left), islets on the reef of Tutuila at the entrance to Pago Pago Harbor (seen behind Fatu).

American Samoa (Samoan: Amerika Samoa or Samoa Amelika) is an unorganized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the South Pacific Ocean southeast of the sovereign state of Samoa. American Samoa is part of the Samoan Islands chain, located west of the Cook Islands, north of Tonga, and some 300 miles (500 km) south of Tokelau.

The pre-Western history of Eastern Samoa (now American Samoa) is inextricably bound with the history of Western Samoa (now independent Samoa). The Manu'a Islands of American Samoa has one of the oldest histories of Polynesia, in connection with the Tui Manua title, connected with the histories of the archipelagos of Fiji, Tonga, the Cook Islands, Tokelau and elsewhere in the Pacific, where Manu'a once had influence. Early 19th century Rarotongan missionaries to the Samoa islands were followed by a group of Western missionaries led by John Williams of the Congregationalist London Missionary Society in the 1830's, officially bringing Christianity to Samoa.

After the U.S. took possession of American Samoa, the U.S. Navy built a coaling station on Pago Pago Bay for its Pacific Squadron and appointed a local Secretary.

After World War I, during the time of the Mau movement in Western Samoa (then a New Zealand protectorate), there was a corresponding American Samoa Mau movement, led by Samuel Sailele Ripley, who was from Leone village and was a WWI war veteran. After meetings in America, he was prevented from disembarking from the ship that brought him home to American Samoa and was not allowed to return. The American Samoa Mau movement having been suppressed by the US Navy, in 1930 the US Congress sent a committee to investigate the status of American Samoa, led by Americans who had had a part in the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom.

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 which meets in the village of Fagatogo, the territory's de facto and de jure capital. 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 territorial government officials. There are only a few federal employees in American Samoa and no active military personnel (there is an Army Reserve unit, however); the overwhelming majority of public sector employees work for the American Samoa Government.

Politics

Politics of American Samoa takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic dependency, whereby the Governor is the head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system. American Samoa is a unincorporated and unorganized territory of the United States, administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior. The American political parties (Republican and Democrats) exist in American Samoa, but few politicians are aligned with the parties.

There is also the traditional village politics of the Samoa Islands, the "fa'amatai" and the "fa'asamoa", which continues in American Samoa and in independent Samoa, and which interacts across these current boundaries. The majority of lands in American Samoa and independent Samoa are communal. A matai can represent a small family group or a great extended family that reaches across islands, and to both American Samoa and independent Samoa. The reason why many sources list Pago Pago is because the name Pago Pago, the most popular port of call in American Samoa, has become associated with the harbor itself; Wikipedia entry for Pago Pago.)

Nationality

Persons born in American Samoa are United States nationals, but not United States citizens. Such status is only conferred on persons born in the districts of American Samoa and Swains Island, but not to persons born in unorganized atolls.

Administrative divisions

American Samoa is administratively divided into 3 districts and 2 "unorganized" atolls.

Geography

Economy

Demographics

Culture

The culture in American Samoa is basically the same as in Western Samoa(Upolu). (see Samoa)

Sports

See also: Sports in American Samoa

About 30 ethnic Samoans, many from American Samoa, currently play in the National Football League.

The Origin of Samoa

The origin of Samoa, according to the stories told by the chiefs, is that Samoan people are actually from an unknown land call "Saviki" (which most people believe is Savaii.) According to the Samoan old belief that everyone in the Polynesian area are from savaiki, which is in Savaii. In March of 1889, a German naval force shelled a village in Samoa, and by doing so destroyed some American property.