American Samoa Deed of Cession (Tutuila)
High chiefs of Tutuila signed a Deed of Cession transferring the island to the United States; American Samoa's people became US nationals-a status that, uniquely, still does not confer birthright citizenship.
On this day
April 17
Fall of Phnom Penh
The Khmer Rouge captured Phnom Penh and emptied the city at gunpoint, beginning a genocide that killed some 1.5-2 million Cambodians and drove waves of survivors to seek refuge in the US. (Shares Apr 17 with the 1900 American Samoa cession.)
Content note: genocide.