Explain why Samoa and Hawaii were thought to be strategically importan

Explain why Samoa and Hawaii were thought to be strategically important for the United States in the late nineteenth century.

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ANSWER
Both island groups had excellent natural harbors: Pago Pago in Samoa and Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Both could be important coaling stations for a Pacific naval fleet. Samoa was astride the trade route to Australia, and Hawaii was astride the sea lanes to the west coast and to the isthmus of Panama.