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Role Of Imperialism In Miami

Decent Essays

“The white man has no kin; his kin is his money” is a famous Tongan proverb often used by the Tongan people to explain that there are not many similarities between their culture and the western civilization mores. Since Tongan is the only Polynesian country that was not colonized and retains its monarchy, it is expected to observe different behaviors between our culture and their population. One of the most interesting particularity of Tonga, which is very different from what we are used to, is the way they celebrate their Independence Day. This paper will evaluate how the Independence Day is celebrated in Tonga and who were the most important people that made this accomplishment possible. I will argue that the lack of colonization in Tonga …show more content…

In Tonga, the king George Tupou I established a Government and introduced written laws before the colonization, in order to keep the country’s sovereight. Although, Tonga only have guaranteed its fully independence in 1970, governed by King Taufaʿahau Tupou IV, when the full control of domestic affairs was regained and Tonga joined the Commonwealth (an intergovernmental organisation of 53 member states that were mostly territories of the former British Empire). Nowadays the Independence Day is the biggest commemoration in this country; people celebrate thru rituals, speeches and …show more content…

Tupou I was the king who united the country under one ruler, and gave the emancipation for the people by declaring the first written Constitution of Tonga. He safeguarded the right of property for Tongans, and also the freedom of religion; it is because of George Tupou I that Tonga were never colonized by a foreign power. His efforts are celebrated through speeches, given by important Tongan politicians and public figures, and songs, like lakalaka. Sālote Tupou III is also remembered by Tongans during the Independence Day Festivals, because she represents the nationalism of this population. Sālote was the first queen of Tonga; she ruled from 1918 to 1965. Her main accomplishment was getting a closer relationship with UK, which later, in 1970, led to the entrance of Tonga in the

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