Lesson 7.4 - Colonial Rule in the Pacific
New Guinea
Following World War I, German New Guinea was taken over by Australia as a mandated territory of the League of Nations. Australia sponsored an exploration in 1933 of the grass valleys in the interior of New Guinea, which had been largely uninhabited, but known by missionaries and miners. This presented the Australian administration with the problem of 750,000 “new” people as more people came to New Guinea. Australia’s resources for overseeing New Guinea were spread thin. Health and education were left to the missions.
Fiji
Fiji was a British colony from 1874-1970. They brough over laborers from India to work sugar plantations under an indenture system that lasted until 1920. The government then turned its attention to managing the education and health of the large Indian population of Fiji, but the increase in this population raised the difficult question of the native Fijians’ future. They played a smaller part in the economic life of the colony, and the official policy was to keep them within their villages under a separate system of administration. But the government’s resources were too limited to introduce welfare measures or to promote development on any great scale. A good deal depended on the missions and other private organizations.
Samoa
After World War I, German Samoa was taken over by New Zealand as a mandate. German Samoa became known as Western Samoa. Islands to the east, once part of Samoa came under US control and are known as American Samoa. The New Zealand administration of Western Samoa had begun with the objective of promoting the welfare of the indigenous people, which meant health, education, and better use of the land. By recognizing Samoan councils it tried to ensure Samoan support, but the policies broke down in execution. In American Samoa the U.S. Navy provided welfare services as part of its routine work, but, because its principal concern was running the naval base, it could do little more.
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Lesson 7.4 - Colonial Rule in the Pacific
High School
Created on March 2, 2026
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Transcript
Lesson 7.4 - Colonial Rule in the Pacific
New Guinea
Following World War I, German New Guinea was taken over by Australia as a mandated territory of the League of Nations. Australia sponsored an exploration in 1933 of the grass valleys in the interior of New Guinea, which had been largely uninhabited, but known by missionaries and miners. This presented the Australian administration with the problem of 750,000 “new” people as more people came to New Guinea. Australia’s resources for overseeing New Guinea were spread thin. Health and education were left to the missions.
Fiji
Fiji was a British colony from 1874-1970. They brough over laborers from India to work sugar plantations under an indenture system that lasted until 1920. The government then turned its attention to managing the education and health of the large Indian population of Fiji, but the increase in this population raised the difficult question of the native Fijians’ future. They played a smaller part in the economic life of the colony, and the official policy was to keep them within their villages under a separate system of administration. But the government’s resources were too limited to introduce welfare measures or to promote development on any great scale. A good deal depended on the missions and other private organizations.
Samoa
After World War I, German Samoa was taken over by New Zealand as a mandate. German Samoa became known as Western Samoa. Islands to the east, once part of Samoa came under US control and are known as American Samoa. The New Zealand administration of Western Samoa had begun with the objective of promoting the welfare of the indigenous people, which meant health, education, and better use of the land. By recognizing Samoan councils it tried to ensure Samoan support, but the policies broke down in execution. In American Samoa the U.S. Navy provided welfare services as part of its routine work, but, because its principal concern was running the naval base, it could do little more.
Play Video