American Samoa
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- Опубліковано 19 вер 2024
- #AmericanSomoa, #AmericanTerritory, #PacificIslands
American Samoa - Overview of an American Territory. Learn about geography, history, economy, flag, seal, climate, government, politics, people and culture.
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Geography
Tutuila is the largest and the main island of American Samoa. It is the third largest island in the Samoan Islands chain. The mountain range, runs from west to east, is rugged and winding with the northern coastline having steep cliffs and unusual coastline. However, the southern part of the island has flatter terrain. The highest point in the Tutuila Islands is the Mount Matafao, which is at an elevation of 2,142 ft.
Economy
American Samoa’s economic linked to America. The economy is based on services, manufacturing and agritulture. The government is the main employer. A large part of the national income comes in the form of grants from the U.S. federal government.
Tuna canning and tourism are major industries.
Agriculture is organized on a semi-commercial basis for the production of taro, bananas, tropical fruits, and vegetables.
They also grow coconuts, breadfruit, and yams meet the local demand.
The United States and Singapore are the main sources of imports. The United States is the primary destination for exports, which consist mostly of canned tuna, along with a small amount of pet food.
The fish processing business accounted for 15.5% of employment in 2015.
unemployment rate 2005 - almost 30%
History
Contact with Europeans began in the early 18th century. This first couple of encounter were peaceful. Then the 3rd encounter in 1789, ended up in Massacre of French sailors, based on local lore, Frenchmen men violating Samoan women is the cause of this incident. The bay is still called Massacre Bay. Missionaries came Samoa in late 1830. Pago Pago Harbor became a famous refueling spot.
US set up a coal storage facility in Tutuila in the late 1800s and Naval station was built to take advantage of the fine natural harbor. Then is 1900, the US struck a deal with local chiefs and Tutuila came under the administration of United States.
At the turn of the twentieth century, Germany and the United States officially partitioned the Samoan Islands into two: the eastern island group became a territory of the United and became American Samoa. Western island became under German administration. The islands were officially renamed American Samoa in 1911.
American Samoa is one of the 3 places in the entire world prevented any deaths due to Spanish flue pandemic of 1918. Their Governor John Martin Poyer ordered quarantine all the ships before entry.
During World War II, there were more U.S. Marines than the Samoans. Samoan men older than 14 were trained by U.S. military.
In 1966, the United Nations gave American Samoa the option of joining the independent country of Samoa, their neighbor but American Samoa chose to stay in the United States. In 1967, American Samoa became governing territory under united states constitution.
American Samoa played pivotal role in Apollo Program. The astronauts on Apollo 10, 12, 13, 14, and 17 landed few hundred km from Pago Pago. President Richard Nixon gave three moon rocks to the American Samoan government.
The story Rain by William Somerset Maugham was inspired by his visit to American Samoa, later the story became a play and three movies were made based on the story.
Margaret Mead went to American Samoa in 1925 her book Coming of Age in Samoa was most read book in anthropology. Mead mentions “Samoan women deferred marriage for many years while enjoying casual sex before eventually choosing a husband”. The book has sparked years of ongoing and intense debate and controversy.
Government
The government of American Samoa is defined under the Constitution of American Samoa as an unincorporated territory.
The Governor of American Samoa is the head of government, elected by popular vote for four-year terms. Since American Samoa is a self-governing territory, the President of the United States serves as the Head of State.
The President doesn’t play an active role in local government, but he can dissolve the legislature, and no act of parliament will become law without his approval.
The legislative has two chambers. The House of Representatives has 21 members, elected for a two-year term. The Senate has 18 members, elected for a four-year term by the chiefs of the islands.
The judiciary is independent of the government; the High Court of American Samoa is the highest court below the United States Supreme Court. The High Court is located in the capital of Pago Pago.
There is also the traditional village politics of the Samoa Islands, the "fa'amatai" a chief system and fa'asamoa” means Samoan Way which influence all level of government.
StarKist Tuna
Thanks
You are welcome. Thank you for watching
I plan on moving there with my friend who has a lot of family in Leone. I'm very excited! 😊
It is a great place to live a happy peaceful life. I am so happy for you. Thank you for watching
I grew up here.
Paradise, the way it was meant to be.
You must have had a great childhood there. I am hoping to visit one day. Thank you for watching.
Nice
Thank you for watching.
Even they do a referendum it could be non binding would tell the government how citizens feel about the subject.
Great information
Thanks
Why don't American Somoa citizens have a referendum to become the 51st state of America? As well as islands of Somoa. Being 120 years territories is time to join the mainland states which who have contributed so much.
Thanks you for watching. It is a very complicated issue. American Samoans, are hesitant to become a state because some of them believe it might erode their culture and land rights similar to what happed in Hawaii. In American Samoa families own the land, if your great great grandma is buried in the land it is yours (or your families). Politics also run similar way, head of the family dictate what the rest of them do. They also like the help they get from US, so don't want to be independent country and the same reason don't want to join the independent state of Samoa. I guess for now majority of them are content with the status, but with younger generation more apatite to become on of the state. You might be interested in checking the other US territories, we have a video on Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Northern Marian Island and Guam. We would love for you to subscribe to this channel as well. Thanks again
Becoming a state would destroy Samoan culture similar to the way it did with Hawaii.
Land is passed down thru families and it has helped to keep big corporations from buying up land and erecting large hotel chains and other businesses that would end up taking over.
Look at Guam as an example of this. Tumon is nothing but a miniature version of Waikiki.
It's only if Samoa 🇼🇸 change within. Then electricity has already changed Samoa 🇼🇸 culture and running water from the tap. Hawaii has one island if I remember right for maintaining there true history. Plus Samoa would write ✍ there own constitution for statehood. In turn you still maintain your direction. Remember United States means each state has a constitution. Founding fathers 👨 considered each state as nation.
In the 1900 the agreement was signed that Am. Samoa won't become citizenship due to their culture and lands
The forefathers didn't want to loose all that like Puerto Rico. But whoever wants to be a U.S citizen they can apply for it.
@@linegrant4605 Yes that is true 👍 but times and attitudes 🙄 changes for all citizens. But I sense that the government doesn't want even a non-binding referendums to see how they feel on the issues of statehood. Know matter it takes 2/3's of the population that favorable in a binding voters who for any actions too be taken.
Even they do a referendum it could be non binding would tell the government how citizens feel about the subject.
You are right. There are many ways to set a side the referendum result. Puerto Rico is in the process for so long and yet there are no resolution. Thank you for watching
Port Rico has voted several times but not enough of referendum to pass.