American Samoa

American Samoa is a group of islands.

It sits in the south Pacific Ocean. It is part of a place called Polynesia.

The islands are very green. Most of the land has rainforests.

The weather is warm and wet.

Many people live on the islands. Most people are Samoan. They speak Samoan and English.

A big town is called Pago Pago. It is near the water. Many boats go there to catch tuna.

It is a special place in the ocean. You can see many beautiful trees.

American Samoa is a group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean.

It sits in a region called Polynesia. The islands are part of the United States. They are the southernmost U.S. territory. Most of the land is covered by green rainforests.

The weather is tropical, which means it is warm and wet.

Many islands make up this place. Some are volcanic islands like Tutuila. Others are coral atolls, which are ring-shaped islands.

About 47,400 people live there. Most people are Samoan. They speak English and Samoan. Most people live on Tutuila. This island has the capital town, Pago Pago.

Pago Pago has a large, safe harbor.

Many boats use this harbor to catch tuna. Tuna is a main product that the islands sell to other places. The U.S. military also has a large presence here. This helps the local economy. Many people from American Samoa join the U.S. Army.

American Samoa is a group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean.

It sits in a region called Polynesia within Oceania. The islands are located southeast of the country of Samoa. They are east of the International Date Line. American Samoa is the southernmost territory of the United States. It is also one of two U.S. territories south of the Equator.

The islands are made of volcanic land and coral atolls. The total land area is slightly larger than Washington, D.C. However, the total area including the water is about the size of New Zealand.

The islands have a tropical climate that is warm and wet.

Most of the land is covered by thick rainforests. About 90 percent of the area is green with forest. The islands include Tutuila, Aunuʻu, Ofu, Olosega, and Taʻū. These are inhabited volcanic islands. There is also the uninhabited Rose Atoll and Swains Island. Swains Island is a remote coral atoll.

These different landforms create a very diverse landscape for visitors to see.

Polynesians have lived on these islands since prehistory.

European explorers first saw the islands in the 18th century. A Dutchman named Jacob Roggeveen saw them in 1722. Later, missionaries arrived in the late 1830s. In the late 1800s, many different countries visited the islands. They used the protected harbor at Pago Pago to refuel ships.

The United States took control of the eastern islands in 1900. This happened after an agreement called the Tripartite Convention. This agreement split the Samoan islands between the United States and Germany.

Today, about 47,400 people live in American Samoa.

Most residents are indigenous Samoan people. They speak both Samoan and English. Most people live on the island of Tutuila. This island is home to the capital, Pago Pago.

The local economy relies on many different things. Tuna products are the main items exported to other places. The U.S. military also has a large presence here. In fact, the local Army recruiting station in Pago Pago ranked first in recruitment in 2021.

American Samoa has a very unique way of governing itself. It became self-governing in 1967 with its own constitution. It has its own executive, legislative, and judicial branches. However, it is still administered by the U.S. federal government. This is because it is officially an unorganized territory. People born there are considered "non-citizen nationals" rather than citizens at birth.

Many local leaders have chosen this path to protect their culture. They want to keep their traditional land ownership and the Samoan language.

American Samoa is a self-governing, unincorporated, and unorganized territory of the United States.

It is located within the Polynesia subregion of Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean. This territory is situated southeast of the island nation of Samoa. It lies east of the International Date Line and the Wallis and Futuna Islands. To the west are the Cook Islands, while Tonga lies to the north. American Samoa is the southernmost territory belonging to the United States. It is one of only two U.S. territories located south of the Equator.

The territory consists of several distinct landforms. The inhabited volcanic islands include Tutuila, Aunuʻu, Ofu, Olosega, and Taʻū. There is also the uninhabited Rose Atoll. Additionally, the territory includes Swains Island, which is a remote coral atoll.

The total land area is slightly larger than Washington, D.C. When including territorial waters, the total area is about the size of New Zealand. The climate is tropical and very wet. Approximately 90 percent of the land is covered by dense rainforests.

The history of the islands involves ancient Polynesian networks. Oral literature describes a widespread confederacy ruled by the Tui Manua dynasties. These kings governed many far-flung islands and Polynesian outliers. They grew powerful by controlling trade in ceremonial goods. These included finely woven mats, whale ivory, and seashell ornaments.

European contact began in the early 18th century. The Dutchman Jacob Roggeveen was the first European to sight the islands in 1722. Later, explorers like Louis-Antoine de Bougainville and James Cook visited or recorded the islands. In 1789, a French expedition led by Lapérouse suffered an attack on Tutuila. This event led to the naming of Massacre Bay.

In the late 19th century, many nations competed for influence in the region. The protected natural harbor at Pago Pago was highly valuable. Ships used it as a refueling station for coal. The United States, Germany, and Great Britain eventually settled their rivalries through the Tripartite Convention of 1899. This agreement partitioned the Samoan Islands. The eastern group became the territory of the United States. The western islands became known as German Samoa. The U.S. formally annexed its portion in 1900.

The territory was originally known as the U.S. Naval Station Tutuila. It was officially renamed American Samoa in 1911.

American Samoa has a unique political status today. It became self-governing in 1967 after adopting a constitution. The local government is republican and has three branches. These are the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. However, it remains an unorganized territory. This means it is directly administered by the U.S. federal government. American Samoa is one of seventeen non-self-governing territories defined by the United Nations. It is a member of groups like the Pacific Islands Forum and the International Olympic Committee.

The relationship with the United States is complex due to cultural protections. In 1949, the U.S. tried to incorporate the territory through an Organic Act. Local Samoan matai intervened to stop this. They feared incorporation would destroy Samoan culture and traditional land ownership. Because of this, American Samoa is the only U.S. territory where citizenship is not granted at birth.

People born there are classified as "non-citizen nationals." This status has limited rights compared to full citizens. In 2021, the Samoan Fono passed a unanimous resolution against birthright citizenship. They want to protect their indigenous governance and the Samoan language, gagana Samoa.

The economy is shaped by the territory's geography and military presence. The U.S. military plays a major role in society and the economy. American Samoa has the highest rate of military enlistment of any U.S. state or territory. In 2021, the Army recruiting station in Pago Pago ranked first in recruitment.

Tuna products are the main exports for the islands. The United States is their largest trading partner.

Tourism is a growing but underdeveloped sector. The territory's geographic isolation contributes to high rates of poverty and emigration. Despite these challenges, the people maintain a strong connection to their indigenous roots.