IMPERIALISM IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS
Why? Expand empire and power Grow sugarcane, pineapple, and other tropical goods to sell back home Access to water rights
Who? Many European nations and the United States colonized islands in the South Pacific. United Kingdom (Fiji, Tonga, Cook, Solomon) France (Marquesas, New Caledonia, Society) German (Palau, Marshall, Mariana) United States (Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa)
Impact Europeans moved people from different islands to work elsewhere. This led to ethnic conflicts on some islands. World War II: Fierce battles on several islands After the war many were given to U.S. as trust territories (independent, but temporarily under U.S. control)
Independence Around the 1960s many islands moved towards independence United States: Hawaii is now a state Guam and American Samoa are still territories