In the hisstory of Samoa, contact with Europeans began in the early 18th century but did not intensify until the arrival of the English. In 1722, [[Dutch people|Dutchman]] [[Jacob Roggeveen]] was the first European to sight the islands. [[Missionary|Missionaries]] and traders arrived in the 1830s. Halfway through the 19th century, the United Kingdom, Germany and the United States all claimed parts of the kingdom of [[Samoa]], and established [[tradetrading post]]s. King [[Malietoa Leaupepe]] died in 1898 and was succeeded by Malietoa Tooa Mataafa. The US and British consuls supported Malietoa Tanu, Leaupepe's son. US and British warships, including the [[USS Philadelphia (C-4)|USS ''Philadelphia'']] shelled [[Apia]] on 15 March 1899. After World War I, the [[League of Nations]] carved up Samoa. Britain and New Zealand took over the western islands which became 'Western Samoa' and USA claimed the eastern half of the country which became [[American Samoa]]. In 1962, Western Samoa became the first Pacific Island nation to gain political independence. In 1997, Samoa officially dropped the 'Western' from its name as it was an appendage from its colonial era.
