World History
History of Samoa. This is a short overview to the history of the Pacific island nation of Samoa.
From the site:
Migrants from Southeast Asia arrived in the Samoan islands more than 2,000 years ago and from there settled the rest of Polynesia further to the east. Contact with Europeans began in the early 1700s but did not intensify until the arrival of English missionaries and traders in the 1830s. At the turn of the 20th century, the Samoan islands were split into two sections. The eastern islands became territories of the United States in 1904 and today are known as American Samoa. The western islands became known as Western Samoa (now just Samoa), passing from German control to New Zealand in 1914. New Zealand administered Western Samoa under the auspices of the League of Nations and then as a UN trusteeship until independence in 1962. Western Samoa was the first Pacific Island country to gain its independence.
The 1960 Constitution, which formally came into force with independence, is based on the British pattern of parliamentary democracy, modified to take account of Samoan customs. Samoa's two high chiefs at the time of independence were given lifetime appointments to jointly hold the office of head of state. Malietoa Tanumafili II has held this post alone since the death of his colleague in 1963. His eventual successor will be selected by the legislature for a 5-year term.
Since 1982 the majority party in the Fono has been the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP). HRPP leader Tofilau Eti Alesana served as prime minister for nearly all of the period between 1982 and 1998, when he resigned due to health reasons. Tofilau Eti was replaced by his deputy, Tuila'epa Sailele Malielegaoi.
- History Of Tokelau
History of Tokelau. This is a brief essay on the history of Tokelau which is a group of three atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand. It is a territory of New Zealand. Wikipedia notes, "Tokelau is a non-self-governing...
- The Settlement Of Polynesia
This is a two part essay on human migration in Polynesia. It includes The Settlement of Polynesia, Part 1 and The Settlement of Polynesia, Part 2. It was written by Dennis Kawaharada. Some of the islands of Oceania were among the last habitable land areas...
- History Of Niue
History of Niue. Have you ever heard of Niue? I sure had not. It is a small Oceania island which is a territory of New Zealand. And like all places on Earth, it has a history. Wikipedia notes, "Niue is an island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean....
- History Of Tonga
History of Tonga. This is a good essay which covers the history of the Oceania island nation of Tonga. Wikipedia notes that, "The Kingdom of Tonga is an archipelago in the southern Pacific Ocean, about a third of the way between New Zealand and Hawaii....
- History Of Palau
History of Palau. This is a very brief history of the Pacific Island nation of Palau. This nation is hosting the American television series Survivor in 2005. From the site: Palau was initially settled more than 4,000 years ago, probably by migrants...
World History
History of Samoa
History of Samoa. This is a short overview to the history of the Pacific island nation of Samoa.
From the site:
Migrants from Southeast Asia arrived in the Samoan islands more than 2,000 years ago and from there settled the rest of Polynesia further to the east. Contact with Europeans began in the early 1700s but did not intensify until the arrival of English missionaries and traders in the 1830s. At the turn of the 20th century, the Samoan islands were split into two sections. The eastern islands became territories of the United States in 1904 and today are known as American Samoa. The western islands became known as Western Samoa (now just Samoa), passing from German control to New Zealand in 1914. New Zealand administered Western Samoa under the auspices of the League of Nations and then as a UN trusteeship until independence in 1962. Western Samoa was the first Pacific Island country to gain its independence.
The 1960 Constitution, which formally came into force with independence, is based on the British pattern of parliamentary democracy, modified to take account of Samoan customs. Samoa's two high chiefs at the time of independence were given lifetime appointments to jointly hold the office of head of state. Malietoa Tanumafili II has held this post alone since the death of his colleague in 1963. His eventual successor will be selected by the legislature for a 5-year term.
Since 1982 the majority party in the Fono has been the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP). HRPP leader Tofilau Eti Alesana served as prime minister for nearly all of the period between 1982 and 1998, when he resigned due to health reasons. Tofilau Eti was replaced by his deputy, Tuila'epa Sailele Malielegaoi.
- History Of Tokelau
History of Tokelau. This is a brief essay on the history of Tokelau which is a group of three atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand. It is a territory of New Zealand. Wikipedia notes, "Tokelau is a non-self-governing...
- The Settlement Of Polynesia
This is a two part essay on human migration in Polynesia. It includes The Settlement of Polynesia, Part 1 and The Settlement of Polynesia, Part 2. It was written by Dennis Kawaharada. Some of the islands of Oceania were among the last habitable land areas...
- History Of Niue
History of Niue. Have you ever heard of Niue? I sure had not. It is a small Oceania island which is a territory of New Zealand. And like all places on Earth, it has a history. Wikipedia notes, "Niue is an island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean....
- History Of Tonga
History of Tonga. This is a good essay which covers the history of the Oceania island nation of Tonga. Wikipedia notes that, "The Kingdom of Tonga is an archipelago in the southern Pacific Ocean, about a third of the way between New Zealand and Hawaii....
- History Of Palau
History of Palau. This is a very brief history of the Pacific Island nation of Palau. This nation is hosting the American television series Survivor in 2005. From the site: Palau was initially settled more than 4,000 years ago, probably by migrants...