The Samoan Civil War (1886–1894, with renewed conflict in 1898–1899) was a series of internal power struggles over the Samoan monarchy that drew in foreign powers, including the United States, Germany, and Great Britain. Rival Samoan factions competed for control of the islands, while competing international interests sought influence in the strategically important South Pacific region. U.S. naval forces became involved in support of allied Samoan leaders, and tensions between foreign powers at times escalated into open confrontation. The conflict ultimately contributed to the Tripartite Convention of 1899, which divided the Samoan Islands between the United States and Germany, shaping the region’s political future.