Timeline of American Samoa

Chronology

10 events spanning the history of American Samoa. BCE/CE dating.

1. 1722

   Exploration

   Dutch navigator Jacob Roggeveen is the first European to explore Samoa.

2. 1887

   Hawaiian King Kalakaua

   Mr. John E. Bush, Hawaiian King Kalakaua’s “Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the King of Samoa,” arrived in Apia with his delegation. Bush drank kava with King Malietoa Laupepa, and presented him with the “Grand Cross of the Order of Oceania.” Both parties bound themselves “to enter into a political confederation,” subject to existing treaty obligations. The “convention” was signed on February 17, 1887.

3. 1899

   Annex

   Germany annexes Western Samoa (now called the Independent State of Samoa, or just Samoa), the US takes over eastern Samoa (American Samoa) and Britain withdraws its claim to the islands in accordance with treaty between Germany, Britain and the US.

4. 1914

   New Zealand occupies Western Samoa

   New Zealand occupies Western Samoa during World War I and continues to administer it after the war by virtue of a League of Nations mandate (and a United Nations mandate after World War II).

5. 1926

   Devastated by a hurricane

   American Samoa was devastated by a hurricane. Olosega, in the Manua Islands, suffered the most. The Navy Department gave the Territory 50 tons of rice, 10 tons of salmon and 15 tons of biscuits.

6. 1939 – 1945

   US troops stationed

   US troops stationed in Western Samoa during World War II, but no battles are fought on the islands.

7. 1962

   Independence

   Western Samoa becomes independent, the first Pacific island nation to do so.

8. 1978

   Hyrum Rex Lee

   Hyrum Rex Lee finished his term as American Samoa’s last appointed civil governor.

9. 1998

   Restrictions on media freedom

   Government imposes stringent restrictions on media freedom.

10. 2002

    New Zealand formally apologizes

    New Zealand formally apologizes to Samoa for its poor treatment of Samoan citizens in colonial times. Prime Minister Helen Clark makes the apology at a ceremony in Apia marking 40 years of independence.