Samoa became independent in 1962, so in 2012, Samoa has just finished celebrating 50 years of independence.
They are the same in that Samoans in American Samoa and Samoa (once Western Samoa) have the same heritage. However, American Samoa is a US territory while Samoa is an independent nation. So they are in effect two different countries.
Samoa became independent on 1 January 1962
Samoa became independent on June 1st 1962.
Samoa first became independent in 1962.
There is Samoa, an independent nation. Or there is American Samoa, owned by the US. However, the independent nation of Samoa used to be a territory of New Zealand.
You ask "why" is Samoa independent?... I'd say because like any other country, Samoans feel they should have the right to think and feel for themselves. Like other countries, Samoa shouldn't have to adhere to foreign laws. Samoa is independent because they (we) are intelligent enough to know when enough "outside-world" control is enough!
Samoa is not part of any other country. It is its own independent country.
50 years
It is now independent and correctly known as the Independent State of Samoa. It was cared for by New Zealand after WW I until it achieved independence in 1962. In 1914 New Zeland troops ousted the Germans who had been in control of the copra and cocoa trade since 1850. Samoa should not be confused with American Samoa which was annexed by the US in 1900.
1962.
Samoa became independent from New Zealand in 1962.
Because Samoa is an independent country, not a British colony.