Editing History of Samoa (section)

===19th century===
{{Split section|Kingdom of Samoa|discuss=Talk:History of Samoa#Create "Kingdom of Samoa" Article|date=January 2024}}
European and Tahitian and Cook Islander [[Missionary|missionaries]] and traders, led by [[John Williams (missionary)|Rev. John Williams]] began arriving around 1830. Coming via Tahiti, they were known in Samoa as the Lotu Taiti. Williams was helped by the [[Ali'i]] Malietoa Vainu'upo to establish the [[London Missionary Society]] mission. The LMS missionaries brought Tahitian converts to share their acceptance of the new religion. This Christian endeavor laid the foundation of the [[Congregational Christian Church of Samoa]].

The [[United States Exploring Expedition]] (1838–42) under [[Charles Wilkes]] reached Samoa in 1839 and appointed an Englishman, John C. Williams, son of the missionary, as acting U.S. consul.<ref name="GHR"/> However this appointment was never confirmed by the [[U.S. State Department]]; John C. Williams was merely recognized as "Commercial Agent of the United States".<ref name="GHR"/> A British consul was already residing at [[Apia]].

In 1855 [[Johann Cesar VI. Godeffroy|J.C. Godeffroy & Sohn]] expanded its trading business into the [[Samoan Islands]], which were then known as the Navigator Islands. During the second half of the 19th century [[German Empire|German]] influence in [[Samoa]] expanded with large plantation operations being introduced for coconut, cacao and hevea rubber cultivation, especially on the island of 'Upolu where German firms monopolized [[copra]] and [[cocoa bean]] processing. British business enterprises, harbour rights, and consulate office were the basis on which Britain had cause to intervene in Samoa. The United States Navy began operations at the harbor of [[Pago Pago]] on [[Tutuila]] in 1877 and formed alliances with local native chieftains, most conspicuously on the islands of [[Tutuila]] and [[Aunu'u]]. On April 17, 1900, the U.S flag was raised on Sogelau hill of Fagatogo village. Thus, Eastern Samoa became the U.S. Territory of [[American Samoa]]. The Kingdom of Manu'a joined as part of American Samoa in 1904.

In the 1880s Great Britain, Germany and the United States all claimed parts of the kingdom of Samoa, and established trade posts. The rivalry between these powers exacerbated tensions between the indigenous factions which were all jockeying for complete political authority. The islands were divided among the three powers in the 1890s, and between the United States and Germany in 1899.<ref>Paul M. Kennedy, ''The Samoan Tangle: A Study in Anglo-German-American Relations 1878–1900'' (University of Queensland Press, 2013).</ref>