The Pacific

Summary Essay

The Pacific

Colonial Acquisition in the Pacific/ Colonization in the Pacific:

Colonization in the Pacific began with the arrival of the first missionaries who came to spread the good news of God, the traders and whalers who came to trade and to do whaling, the prisoners and deserters who escaped ships that passed the Pacific islands on voyages, and the brave explorers who discovered other lands for their country. Then the colonial powers grew attention to the islands, wanting to claim it before others could, because of the great abundance of the mineral wealth, natural resources, and uses for strategic military purposes.

The major colonial powers during this time were: Britain, Spain, Germany, France, the United States and other places such as New Zealand and Australia.

During the 1780s to the 1890s Britain took Pitcairn, ceded Fiji, and established protectorates over South East New Guinea, Southern Cook Islands, Tokelau, Tuvalu, and the Solomons. Meanwhile Spain had colonized the Miranas and then loses all its possessions in the South Pacific due to the 1898 Spanish American War. After, the United States took Guam from Spain and also took Western Samoa by cession. Germany bought the northern Miranas and Cardines from Spain and took Western Samoa by Cession. They also established protectorates over North East New Guinea, the Bismarck Islands, and over the Marshall Islands. And then in the South American country of Chile, leaders annexes Easter Island.

As you can see already most of the Islands of the Pacific are been annexed, bought, and influence with the culture, language, and lifestyles of the western worlds. American Samoa was not really wanted because it lacked the abundance of natural resources (except for copra) and mineral wealth. So the United Stated took Samoa and used its Harbor, which is now known as Pago Harbor.

Remittance:

Remittance is the sending of money home. In the early days of development in the Pacific Islands, work was scarce and hard to find due to unqualified workers. Schools were not formed yet and for the schools that were opened, money was a problem. So the families sent their children to the States where they received formal education and got jobs with better salary. In return, they would send some of the money from their paychecks back to mom, dad, and the family. (This is an example of remittance.) This helped the family while they worked. And it still happens today. For example, in Samoa the parents send their children to the states, mostly Hawaii, where they get high salary jobs. In return, even if they don't want to they send money home. It may be every time the paycheck comes in or when the family asks for money.

Juvenile Delinquency:

Juvenile, relating to youth or young people and delinquency meaning wrongdoing or actions against the law is youths who violates and defies the laws. It is an increasing problem in the States as well as a serious problem that's growing in the Pacific. The Western World has influenced the Pacific islands greatly with the new lifestyles, languages, entertainment, technologies, and so forth. It has prejudiced the elders as well as the youths. Since the youths of today are the future of tomorrow, the youth's environment and lifestyles makes him/her who they are in the world. So since we are moving towards the future our way of life has evolved into new things and many new temptations. For example, here in American Samoa we are greatly influenced with the American living condition that we have adapted to it. New singers bring profanity,