American Samoa has been a territory of the United States since the signing of the Deed of Session on April 17, 1900. During this long period, the Samoans maintained local management of the islands while U.S. activity was limited to the operation of the coaling station and the naval base in the Pago Pago harbor area. When the Japanese Empire began aggressive actions in the Pacific during the late 1930's, the quiet naval station at Tutuila suddenly acquired a new strategic importance. In 1940 the Port of PagoPago became an advanced training and staging area for the U.S. Marine Corps. During those war years the heightened activity exposed American Samoa to the U.S. way of life and the benefits of American built roads, airstrips, docks, and medical facilities.

Since World War II, American Samoa has developed into a modern, self coverning political system. The government is divided into three branches: Executive, legislative, and judical. The Governor and Lieutenant Governor head the executive branch and are elected to four year terms. The legislature, or Fono, consists of two houses: the Senate, selected by each matai (village chief) and the House of Representatives, elected by the general population. The judicial branch is part of the U.S. judicial system. American Samoa has a non-voting representative to the U.S. Congress.