Samoa Act

1889

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June 17, 2026

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The Samoa Act of 1889 was an agreement between the United States, Great Britain, and Germany that aimed to establish the neutrality of the Samoan Islands and prevent further conflict among the powers. This act followed a period of intense European influence and intervention in Samoa, where rivalries between the three nations, fueled by competing interests and the manipulation of local Samoan chiefs, had led to instability.

The agreement ultimately led to the division of Samoa in 1899: the United States annexed eastern Samoa, while Germany took control of western Samoa. This partition was carried out without the consent of the Samoan people, causing significant resentment.123

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Pacific Islands
Foreign intervention and control
…supervision set up by the Samoa Act of 1889 came to grief in European rivalries and Samoan factionalism over chieftainships, an agreement of 1899 divided the Samoa group between Germany and the United States; Britain received compensation elsewhere. Britain was mainly concerned with the activity of its nationals, and it…
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…supervision set up by the Samoa Act of 1889 came to grief in European rivalries and Samoan factionalism over chieftainships, an agreement of 1899 divided the Samoa group between Germany and the United States; Britain received compensation elsewhere. Britain was mainly concerned with the activity of its nationals, and it…
Read More