The historical record is clear that “[a]fter the American flag was raised in [American Samoa in] 1900 the people thought they were American citizens.” That is, “the Samoans understood first that annexation by the United States meant the people would receive American citizenship.” 

Their belief was supported by U.S. law at the time the Deeds of Cession were signed. In 1892, the Supreme Court acknowledged the long-standing rule that following such a cession the inhabitants of the new territory automatically become citizens of the United States (Boyd v. Nebraska, 143 U.S. 135, 162 (1892)). Further, in 1898 the Supreme Court made clear that anyone born “within the territory” and “allegiance” of the United States - whether in a State or Territory - was a U.S. citizen based on the Citizenship Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment (United States v. Wong Kim Ark, 169 U.S. 649, 693 (1898)).

Thus, American Samoa’s leaders at the time the Deeds of Cession were signed were correct to believe that by transferring sovereignty to the United States through the Deeds of Cession they would be recognized as full U.S. citizens. Indeed, at that time there was no such thing as a “non-citizen” U.S. national under federal law.

At no point did American Samoa’s leaders negotiate or ask to be recognized as “nationals” but not “citizens” - they thought they would have a right to be citizens, full stop.

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.