Revolution in the Hawaiian Monarchy
The end of a new beginning
Thesis
Without President Harrison, President Mckinley, and Minister John L. Stevens the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom wouldn't be possible during January 17, 1893.
President Grover Cleveland
In 1893 was the last monarchy of the Hawaiian Islands, Queen Liliuokalani was overthrown by a party of businessman which then forced a provisional government. President Cleveland wanted the Hawaiian people to be free but he didn't do anything to stop the annexation. When President Cleveland didn't do anything for the Hawaiian he sent Secretary Blount to Hawaii. What Blount did there was he had to report to President Cleveland what was happening in Hawaii. President Cleveland got a 1,400 page report that said this is illegal and immoral also an Act of War. When President Cleveland receives this report he tells the Committee of Safety to bring down the American flags in Hawaii and return the Kingdom to Queen Liliuokalani. When this happened Stanford Dole tells President Cleveland that if you want to give back the kingdom to the Hawaiian people he would need to shoot his own Americans there. The President didn't do anything to stop it but he knew that what was happening was wrong.
President William Mckinley
President William Mckinley believed in New Imperialism. A New Imperialism is when a country which is really large tries to control a much smaller country. While he was President the Spanish American War was happening at the time which made Pearl Harbor a mid-point for restocking and refueling to get to the Philippines. President Mckinley proposes an annexation treaty which then got approved. The Reciprocity Treaty is where I do something for you and you do something for me later, which was happening with Hawaii and American where Hawaii would ship sugar to America tax free and America would get exclusive use of Pearl Harbor. This was happening during 1876.
Minister John L. Stevens
John Leavitt Stevens was a minister that who was from the United States to the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1893. Minister Stevens was blamed of the overthrow against Queen Liliuokalani because he was apart of the Committee of Safety which was led by Lorrin A. Thurston and Stanford B. Dole. Minister Stevens was a very racist guy. He believed that Hawaiians weren't fit to rule. Also believed that they were child like, and semi barbaric. He requested the Coup de tat against Queen Liliuokalani which he didn't have permission to do without telling the President what he was doing. Instead Minister Stevens told marines to march to downtown Honolulu. When this was happening Hawaii was apparently under controlled by the United States. After that Minister Stevens intimidates Queen Liliuokalani to give up her kingdom. When Minister Stevens is doing this Queen Liliuokalani doesn't up and tells her people to don't give up a keep protesting but then surrenders to the United States. This would then start to end a monarchy while more foreigners start to come to Hawaii.
Historical Significance
By President Grover Cleveland, President William McKinley, and Minister John L. Stevens actions the Hawaiian Kingdom might still be existing and the Overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom wouldn't have happened. What you can take away from this project is that the Hawaiian people got robbed on there own land. Also this isn't fair for them because they all fought to keep there Kingdom but the United States was just to much. This topic is important in history because it shows what the Hawaiians went trough during this time and how they didn't have a choice but to join the United States.
Is Hawaii Legally and Lawfully a State of the Union
In my opinion Hawaii is not legally and lawfully a state of the union because of the report that Blount sent to President Cleveland. It was illegal and immoral also an Act of War. Hawaii was forced to become a state by signing many constitutions.
Supplemental Information
The picture on the bottom left represents America soldiers standing out side of Iolani Palace, the middle picture is where the lowering of the Hawaiian flag in 1898 by Americans and then being cut up into pieces and given to the American citizen in the area as a prize . The picture on the bottom right is what Iolani Palace looks like today with the American flag on top.
Cite
"Hawaiian+monarchy-Google Search." Hawaiian+monarchy-Google Search. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 March 2015.
"President+grover+cleveland - Google Search." President+grover+cleveland - Google Search. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 March 2015.
"President+william+mckinley - Google Search." President+william+mckinley - Google Search. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2015.
"Americans Overthrow Hawaiian Monarchy." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 04 Mar. 2015.