During the age of imperialism, many of the then powerful nations on earth were engrossed in the formation and sustenance of an unequal cultural, economic, and territorial reserve. These were usually in the form of empires or territories and were grounded on the use of supremacy and subordination of other countries which were considered to be weak. The age of imperialism saw the participation of many powerful nations in the annexation of foreign land during the 19^th century to the 20^th century (Oslon, 2007).  Just like the other powerful countries, America was involved in imperialism which made it acquire a number of new territories like Guam, American Samoa, US Virgin Islands, Northern Mariana Islands and Puerto Rico.

Reasons for takeover of American Samoa

America was motivated by a number of reasons to take over American Samoa as one of its new territories. One of the factors that fuelled American ambitions overseas was due to economic demands of that time (Beisner, 2003). With the acquisition of new territories such as American Samoa, America could find a place where it could carry out foreign trade with. In this case, America could protect its interest abroad in trade by selling its surplus goods. At the same time, such new territories could provide new marketplaces a necessary factor for America economic expansion.

Through imperialism, American saw an opportunity to spread its political ideologies to new territories such as American Samoa. America considered itself to be one of the nation's having the best political ideology that ought to be spread to other territories (Hobson, 2005). As a result, taking new lands such as American Samoa afforded America with the opportunity to influence it towards adopting a political stand. This was crucial considering that other nations such as Russia was spreading its wings of Communism in its new territories too. Put in another way, America was checking the spread of other political ideologies such as Communism.

There are many factors the made the America participate in imperialism which was witnessed between the close of the 19^th century and the start of the 20^th century. These reasons which are both economic and political made America acquire new territories such as the American Samoa. This territory could provide America with new market place where surplus goods could be sold. At the same time, America could spread it political believes to American Samoa and this could advance its political influence in the wake of communism. As a result, American took over American Samoa as one of the new territories.