What were the major colonial powers in Oceania and their respective territories?

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What were the major colonial powers in Oceania and their respective territories?

The major colonial powers in Oceania were primarily European nations, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States. Each of these powers had their respective territories in the region.

The United Kingdom had a significant colonial presence in Oceania, with territories such as Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and various Pacific island nations including Samoa, Tonga, and the Solomon Islands.

France also had a substantial colonial empire in Oceania, with territories including French Polynesia (including Tahiti), New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna, and French territories in the Pacific such as French Polynesia, New Caledonia, and Wallis and Futuna.

Germany had a relatively short-lived colonial presence in Oceania, with territories such as German New Guinea (now Papua New Guinea), the Marshall Islands, and the Caroline Islands.

The Netherlands had colonies in Oceania, including the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia), which was one of the largest and most valuable colonies in the region.

Lastly, the United States had several territories in Oceania, including Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.

These colonial powers exerted control over these territories through various means, including military force, economic exploitation, and cultural assimilation. However, the process of decolonization in the mid-20th century led to the independence of many of these territories, resulting in the formation of independent nations in Oceania.