American Samoa
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American Samoa is an unorganized, unincorporated territory of the United States in the South Pacific Ocean, to the East of the larger state of Samoa.
Originally inhabited as early as 1000 BC, Samoa was reached by European explorers in the 18th century.
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| National motto: Samoa, Muamua Le Atua (Samoa, Let God Be First) | |||||
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| Official languages | Samoan, English | ||||
| Capital | Pago Pago | ||||
| Governor | Togiola Tulafono | ||||
| Area - Total - % water | Ranked 226th 199 km² 0% | ||||
| Population | Ranked 203rd
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| Currency | USD | ||||
| Time zone | UTC -11 (no DST) | ||||
| National anthem | |||||
| Internet TLD | .as | ||||
| Calling Code | +1 684 | ||||
International rivalries in the latter half of the 19th century were settled by an 1899 treaty in which Germany and the US divided the Samoan archipelago. The US formally occupied its portion — a smaller group of eastern islands with the noted harbor of Pago Pago — the following year. (see History of Samoa for more.) The western islands are now the independent state of Samoa. The US Navy building a coaling station in Pago Pago Bay for its Pacific Squadron, appointed a local Secretary and secured a Deed of Cession of Tutuila in 1900 and a Deed of Cession of Manu'a in 1904. During World War II, US Marines in American Samoa, outnumbering the local population, had a huge cultural influence. After World War II, a US Department of Interior attempt in Congress to pass Organic Act 4500 to incorporate American Samoa, was defeated through the efforts of American Samoan chiefs led by Tuiasosopo Mariota, and these chiefs efforts led to the creation of a local legislature, the American Samoa Fono. In time the Naval appointed Governor was replaced by a locally elected Governor. Although technically considered "unorganized" in that the US 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 US Territory of American Samoa is on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories, a listing which is disputed by the country.
See: List of American Samoa Governors
- Geography of American Samoa
- Demographics of American Samoa
- Politics of American Samoa
- Economy of American Samoa
- Communications in American Samoa
- Transportation in American Samoa
- Military: Defense is the responsibility of the US
Facts:
- American Samoa is the location of Steps Point, the southernmost point in the United States (if insular areas are included); see extreme points for more information).
- Goods manufactured in territories or protectorates of the United States can be labeled "Made in the USA."
- About 30 ethnic Samoans, many from American Samoa, currently play in the National Football League. It has been estimated that a Samoan male (either an American Samoan, or a Samoan living in the 50 United States) is 40 times more likely to play in the NFL than a non-Samoan American.
- Persons born in American Samoa are United States nationals, but not United States citizens. This is virtually the only circumstance under which an individual would be one and not the other.
- The American Samoa national soccer team holds an unwanted world record in international soccer—the record defeat in an international match, a 31-0 crushing by Australia on April 11, 2001.
External links
- CIA - The World Factbook -- American Samoa (http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/aq.html) - CIA's Factbook on American Samoa
- United Nations Decolonization Papers (http://www.un.org/Depts/dpi/decolonization/docs.htm) - Online United Nations Decolonization Documents including current and past Working Papers on American Samoa
- Library of Congress Portals of the World - American Samoa (http://www.loc.gov/rr/international/asian/americansamoa/americansamoa.html) - Library of Congress resource which provides links to resources on American Samoa.
- Map of American Samoa (http://www.mapsouthpacific.com/american_samoa/index.html) - Map showing the basic layout of American Samoa.
- Revised Constitution of American Samoa (http://www.asbar.org/Newcode/rcas.htm) - Provides the text of the constition of American Samoa.
- The Official Webpage of the American Samoa Government (http://www.asg-gov.net/) - Lists information on the territorial government including officials and recent legislation.
- Jane's American Samoa Page (http://www.janeresture.com/amsam/index.htm)
- History of American Samoa (http://www.historyofnations.net/oceania/americansamoa.html)- Essay which looks at the history of the territory from ancient to more modern times.
| Political divisions of the United States | 
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