Ua Mau Ke Ea O Ka 'Aina I Ka Pono
"The life of the land is perpetuated in sovereignty."
THESIS
The deposition of the Hawaiian empire included the involvement of President William McKinley, President Benjamin Harrison, and Minister John L. Stevens, hence, bringing strain among the Native Hawaiians and its superiors on January 17, 1893.
President William McKinley
The role of President William McKinley’s administration in the overthrow of the Hawaiian kingdom was also responsible. The day Queen Liliuokalani committed to travel to Washington holding a petition signed by many of her people, was the day she would give herself another chance to restore her rightful place on the thrown. But, it became too late for that because President Cleveland’s very own successor, William McKinley had negotiated the annexation treaty to the Senate in 1897. After President Cleveland’s sovereignty, William McKinley came into office and became President of the United States. As president, McKinley affiliates himself into a second treaty of annexation with those who participated in the unlawful overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1893 on June 16, 1897, but the treaty was unable to be ratified because of the protests and the petition signed by the thousands of Native Hawaiians. Therefore, the treaty was defeated in Senate.
President Benjamin Harrison
President Benjamin Harrison, being called to office during Kalakaua’s reign, was also another authority role played in the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom. The Reciprocity Treaty was activated in 1875 signed by David Kalakaua, which gave Hawaii the ability to send sugar to the U.S. tax-free. Moreover, in 1876, the U.S. was also given entry to the agriculture grown in Hawaii. During President Harrison’s reign, the Bayonet Constitution was under threat of force on Kalakaua. It is as if the U.S. desired to take the powers away from the king. This constitution gave white foreigners the power to control the Hawaiian legislature and cabinet. Soon, it made Kalakaua a figure head of the monarch.
Minister John L. Stevens
The role of Minister John L. Stevens was also vital in the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom. Without permission, this secretary of state noticed the new government configured by Sanford B. Dole and declared Hawaii a temporary state controlled by another, in this case the U.S. As he uses his two bare hands to raise the U.S. American flag over the government buildings. The invasion of the U.S. Marines on the shore of Pearl Harbor was supported by Minister John L. Stevens. He was also a supporter of the Committee of Safety I overthrowing the Hawaiian Kingdom. The Committee of Safety discusses with Stevens asking if he would support the Coup De Tat and Stevens agreed. In addition, he gives orders to the Marines to disembark off the U.S.S Boston from their quarters and march down to Honolulu. With such bravery, Stevens threatens Queen Liliuokalani and asks her to surrender yet, she stands her ground. She never surrenders to the provisional government, she surrenders to the United states.
Historical Significance
Is Hawaii Legally and Lawfully A State Of The Union?
Queen Liliuokalani
Hawaii Before Overthrow
Hawaii After Overthrow
CITATIONS
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"Overthrow+of+hawaii - Google Search." Overthrow+of+hawaii - Google Search. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Mar. 2015.
"Overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 11 Mar. 2015.
Pitzer, Pat. "The Overthrow of the Monarchy." The Overthrow of the Monarchy. N.p., Apr.-May 1994. Web. 05 Mar. 2015.
"Reciprocity Treaty of 1875." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 12 Mar. 2015.