Cheryl Walker, age 15, of Greenville, miss., for her question:
WHEN DID THE U.S. ACQUIRE AMERICAN SAMOA?
About 2,300 miles southwest of Hawaii in the South Pacific ocean is the seven island group called American Samoa. This United States territory is divided into three sections that became part of America in 1900, 1904 and 1925.
Largest and most important island is Tutuila. Pago Pago, the capital of American Samoa, lies on Tutuila on one of the best and most beautiful harbors in the world.
American Samoa's 38,000 people are nationals, but not citizens, of the United States. They may freely enter the United States at any time. Many Samoans live in Hawaii and the continental United States.
Polynesian peoples occupied Samoa for at least 2,000 years. European explorers first reached Samoa in 1722. In 1872, the Samoans agreed to let the United States use Pago Pago Bay as a naval coaling station. Later the U.S. was given trading rights in the islands.
In 1899, the United States and Germany signed a treaty dividing Samoa between them. Germany took control of the western islands while the United States took control of Tutuila, Aunuu and Rose Island in 1900, the Manua group in 1904 and Swains Island, 200 miles to the north, in 1925.
The islands were administered by the U.S. Navy until 1951, when they were transferred to the Department of the Interior.
American Samoans elect a governor and a lieutenant governor. The House of Representatives has 20 members elected by the people to two year terms and a Senate with 18 members chosen by county councils to serve two to four year terms. American Samoans who are 18 years of age or older may vote.
The territory's leading industry is tuna canning. Fish products make up over 96 percent of all exports. Other exports include handicrafts and copra.
In the 1960s, the United States began an economic development program that brought sweeping changes to American Samoa. Many people left their villages to take jobs in growing industries around Pago Pago.
Thatched roofed fale, as houses are called, were replaced during the 1960s by hurricane proof buildings made of concrete. New schools were built and teaching by television was introduced. Now ail children from six to 18 must attend school.
A jet airport and a luxury hotel were also built in the 1960s and tourism is now increasing. Also, since 1961, the U.S. government has provided large amounts of money to give American Samoa a prosperous economy.
The islands have a total area of only 76 square miles. Only a third of the land can be cultivated. Rose and Swains islands consist of coral and the others are the remains of extinct volcanoes.
Most of the land of American Samoa is mountainous, with some fertile soil in the valleys. Coconuts, bananas and taro are grown. There are few natural resources.