Story: Pacific Islands and New Zealand

Hoisting the American flag, Samoa, 1900

Hoisting the American flag, Samoa, 1900

The US flag is hoisted at Pago Pago, Samoa, in 1900. Samoan attempts at self-government in the late 19th century had failed in the face of embedded European business and agricultural interests and Samoan infighting. Although Germany, the United States and Britain had recognised Samoan independence in 1889, the three countries gained trading powers. When the United States and Germany formally divided Samoa between themselves in 1899, Britain traded its interests there for recognition of its control of Tonga, the Solomon Islands, Niue and parts of Africa, including Zanzibar.

Using this item

Auckland City Libraries - Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero, Sir George Grey Special Collections
Reference: AWNS-19000518-6-1

Permission of Auckland City Libraries Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page:

Jon Fraenkel, 'Pacific Islands and New Zealand - Colonisation and trade in the Pacific', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/36860/hoisting-the-american-flag-samoa-1900 (accessed 4 May 2024)

Story by Jon Fraenkel, published 20 Jun 2012