Answer

When federal officials came to American Samoa in 1930 to investigate the concerns about citizenship and civil government raised by the Mau, the historical record is clear that American Samoa’s leaders were unanimous in their support for recognition of U.S. citizenship.

  • Tulele Galeai: “[T]he soil of Tutuila and Manua has been made a part of America but the people of Tutuila and Manua are not American Citizens . . . I therefore pray that the people of Tutuila and Manua may also become citizens of America.”

  • Chief Nua: “I desire . . . that the people of American Samoa should be true American citizens; receive American citizenship, to be equal with the true American” (emphasis omitted)

  • Napoleon Tuiteleleapaga: “I ask the commission to . . . try your best to give us American citizenship.”

  • Chief Fanene: “I pray . . . that we may be made citizens of the United States . . . we wish to become loyal and peaceful citizens of the United States.”

  • Chief Matoa: “I wish . . . that the people of Samoa should obtain true American citizenship.”

  • Chief Sotoa: “[I]t is requested to . . . make recommendations for the people of American Samoa to become true American citizens.”

  • Chris T. Young: “[E]very person in American Samoa . . . earnestly request . . . the people of Samoa to be a true American Citizen.”

  • Chief Tauala: “I request the commission to make a recommendation to Congress to take certain acts to have the people of Samoa as true American citizens.”

In fact, the only opposition came from a former U.S. Naval Governor of American Samoa, who testified, “The people are primitive . . . . They become savage only when deeply aroused . . . . They are like grown-up, intelligent children who need kindly guidance . . . the people of American Samoa are, at present, not at all prepared to become citizens of the United States.”

Read more about all this in a legal brief filed by the Samoan Federation of America here or watch Fa’a Samoa, Sovereignty, and Self-Determination in American Samoa: Past and Present in our Building Understanding series.