Extension of U.S Territory
Annexation of Hawaii
Thesis
President Benjamin Harrison
President Benjamin Harrison was the 23rd president of the United States. He was President during Kalakaua Reign.
It is stated in a site, www.jstor.org, that “On January 28 1893, Benjamin Harrison received news of a revolution overthrowing Queen Lydia Liliuokalani of Hawaii.” This explains that he later then negotiated with the treaty of annexation.
He was involved with the reciprocity treaty where Hawaii would not be charged on the sugar they sent to the U.S in 1876.
The same year where the Bayonet Constitution, which was a constitution made in 1887 by anti-monarchists to transfer the power to Americans, was in the same condition but Pearl Harbor was to be annexed. King Kalakaua didn’t like the idea and said no but he becomes a figure hand and signs the constitution.
In 1897, President Benjamin Harrison proposed the treaty of annexation, but it was blocked when the newly formed League petitioned the U.S. Congress.
President William Mckinley
William McKinley became president after Grover Cleveland came out of office in June 16, 1897. It is stated, “he reversed the policy of his predecessor, Democrat Grover Cleveland, and advocated Hawaiian annexation. He believes in new imperialism. He believed that the larger countries are taking over smaller countries. He also believed in expanding over to the west side or west coast.
The Spanish American war helped bring uncertainty about the status of the Hawaiian Islands. The war also helped for more time and was the midpoint for restocking and refueling.
He proposed the annexation treaty of Hawaii and there were not enough votes in the senates. It is also stated in a site, millercenter.org, “An annexation resolution supported by the President made its way into the House of Representative on May 4, 1898.” The day after July 6, 1898 was the day President William McKinley signed the bill. His policy on Hawaii brought more power to the Americans or the U.S. and they had the power politics in the Pacific.
Minister John L. Stevens
Minister John L. Stevens was someone who was racist. He vision that white people was the superior race and that Hawaiians are childlike, unfit, and are semi-barbarians. He was a member of the committee of safety. It is stated in a website that “The committee of Safety was comprised of six Hawaiians subject who were not native blood, one German national, a British national and Five American citizens, for a total of 13 peoples. These were traitors.” Minister Stevens’ view of Hawaiians were still the same or similar. For the U.S.S Boston, the U.S marines land on Hawaii’s soil with minister John L. Stevens without permission from president. They landed in Honolulu to support Coup de Tat against the Queen. Queen Liliuokalani surrenders to U.S Government, not provisional government. That was because there was no authority to do so and there was no manpower. Also, the U.S will recognize their wrong doings.
Historical Significance
Is Hawai'i legally and lawfully a state of the Union
In my opinion, I think Hawai’i is not legally and lawfully a state of the union. This is because they were forced to be annexed. Annex means to “add (territory) to one's own territory by appropriation” and I don’t think that was legal or necessary for them to be forced to give up their land to someone else, especially if they are foreigners. That is why I don’t think Hawai’i is legally and lawfully a state of the Union.
Supplemental Information
This video is explaining how people think of Hawaii only as a paradise where there are beautiful beaches and hula girls, and they don’t know what had happened before Hawaii was seen as a paradise or a vacation spot. It explained the history of Hawaii. From when immigrants from China, Portugal, Vietnam, Japan, and Philippines came to Hawaii to work at the sugar plantation to when Hawaii was annexed. That is what the video was explaining.
Cite
"American President: A Reference Resource." American President: A Reference Resource. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://millercenter.org/president/events/07_07>.
"Annexation of Hawaii." Annexation of Hawaii. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://future.state.gov/when/timeline/1866_timeline/annex_hawaii.html>.
"USH- Hawaii Annexation." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3VuvvyMu9E>.