American Samoa Day, Motto, and Nickname

AMERICAN SAMOA DAY

April 17

STATUS

Official

DATE OF ADMISSION TO UNITED STATES

April 17, 1900 (as a territory)

FORMER DESIGNATION

Samoa

HISTORY

April 17 is an auspicious date for American Samoa. April 17, 1900, is recognized as the date American Samoa became a territory of the United States, and is an official holiday known as Flag Day. The same date in 1960 marks the raising of the territory’s first official flag. On April 17, 1973, the territory’s seal and motto were unveiled, marking the 73rd year of American Samoa’s allegiance with the United States.

The Samoan Islands, which were once united, have been inhabited by Polynesians for more than a thousand years. The arrival of missionaries in 1830 and the eventual introduction of German, British, and United States consulate representation to the islands helped propel Samoa’s identity as an independent nation. However, the death of the Samoan king in 1898 brought civil unrest, and in 1899 the U.S. declared sovereignty over the Samoan islands east of the meridian.

A signing by the chiefs of the islands of Tutuila and Aunuu that year initiated cession of the islands to the United States, and in 1925 the United States named the group of islands American Samoa. In 1960 the people of American Samoa accepted a territorial constitution; it was revised in 1966 and put into effect the following year.

MOTTO

Samoa la Muamua Le Atua ("Let God Be First")

The motto was adopted on March 5, 1973, by the 13th American Samoa Territorial Legislature.

NICKNAMES

None 

-World Trade Press