15 U.S. Territories That Formerly Belonged To Other Countries

5. American Samoa (Germany, Britain, U.S. co-administration)

American Samoa was part of the Samoan Islands group, historically contested by Germany, Britain, and the United States. An 1899 treaty split the islands, giving the U.S. control of the eastern islands. The European legacy is less visible, but treaties and protectorates set the stage for America’s current role.