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Sugar Barons and the Overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom
Thesis
President William McKinely
President William Mckinley was very important to the annexation of Hawaii. Matter of fact, he was the one signed the bill to annex Hawaii. That bill was signed on July 7, 1898. Mckinley pressured senators to approve this annexation. When Mckinley assumed presidency in 1897, he did a reverse policy of President Grover Cleveland. He advocated the Hawaiian annexation. This annexation resolution passed got passed to the House of Representatives on May 4, 1898. After, it was passed and by the Senate on July 6. Mckinley signed it a day after. The United States took possession of the Hawaiian Islands on August 12, 1898. Hawaii had the first territorial government in 1900.
President Grover Cleveland
President Grover Cleveland didn’t want to overthrow the government with force. Cleveland didn’t want to have a fight containing any weapons. He felt as if the actions taken from the committee of safety were an act of war. He also thought that the overthrow interfered with the rights of the people. Cleveland was against fighting. He stated that “The overthrow of the monarchy was not in any way promoted by this government”. In President Cleveland’s first term, he supported free trade with Hawaii. He also made an amendment that the United States would have a coaling and naval station at Pearl Harbor.
Minister John L. Stevens
Minister John L. Stevens was associated with the Committee of Safety. Stevens was accused of the overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani. He also recognized a new government. After this, commissioners dispatched to Washington to request Hawaii to be annexed. He also requested that American Marines land in Hawaii to go against the queen. Minister Stevens is a supporter of the provisional government. He represented the United States on all matters including the political rep. of the U.S. He was also a racist. He talked a lot about Hawaiians. Some things he said were that the Hawaiians were or are childish. He also said that the Hawaiians were semi-barbaric. Minister Stevens also threatened the queen and said no to the provisional government.
Historical Significance
Is Hawaii Legally and Lawfully a State of The Union
In my honest opinion, I want to say yes and no. I want to say yes because Hawaii went through a lot to become a state. President William Mckinley signed the bill to have Hawaii as the 50th state. But, at the same time I want to say no because Hawaii went through a lot of bad things. Hawaii was kind of taken by war. It was by force.
Supplemental Information
Cites
"United States Presidential Election, 1900." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2015.
"Picture Display Page - John L. Stevens." Picture Display Page - John L. Stevens. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2015.
"Grover Cleveland." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 02 Mar. 2015.
"PRESIDENT GROVER CLEVELAND'S MESSAGE." PRESIDENT CLEVELAND'S MESSAGE. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2015.
"Miller Center." American President: American President. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2015.
"John L. Stevens." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2015.
"The Overthrow of the Monarchy." The Overthrow of the Monarchy. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2015.
"Statehood in Hawaii - Remembering August 21, 1959." Hawaiian Shirts from Aloha Shirt Shop. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2015.