Samoa
1839 - Charles Wilkes surveyed this group of 14 volcanic islands 4000 miles from San Francisco on the route to Australia
Strategic Pacific island with good harbors for naval bases 3000 miles south of Hawaii, halfway to Australia
1884 German protectorate but 1888 native revolt
American property shelled by German ships, caused wave of anti-German feeling in U.S. and jingoism
1889 Congress voted funds to defend Samoa from Germans
Apia harbor hurricane Mar. 16, 1889, sank 6 ships, prevented war
1889 treaty created "condominium" shared by U.S., Ger., Brit.
1899 civil war between native factions resulted in formal partition
American Samoa included Tutuila and 6 islands - map but not independent Western Samoa - map
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