The U.S. Overthrow On Hawaii
Hawaiians losing their independence
Thesis
President Grover Cleveland
President Grover Cleveland was just elected into office. Cleveland had received petitions and had known about the Hawaiian protest against the overthrow. Cleveland ordered an investigation on the legality of the overthrow as a response to the native Hawaiians. He sent Secretary Blount to Hawaii. Blount reported that the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom was Illegal and Immoral. President Cleveland said that the overthrow taken by the Committee of Safety was an act of war. Cleveland would have sent troops to land in Hawaii to shoot U.S. citizens to overthrow Sanford Dole. However he let Dole stay in office and let the provisional government to remain in Hawaii.
President William Mckinley
In 1897, President William McKinley replaced Cleveland in office. Unlike Cleveland, McKinley favored the annexation on the Hawaiian Kingdom. He believed in new imperialism and that larger countries would conquer smaller countries. He gained support during the Spanish-American War in the early 1898. The war between America and Spain took place in the Pacific. He wanted Hawaii because of its strategic location. Hawaii would be the mid-point for restocking and refueling. As a result he proposed an annexation treaty. However he wasn't able to receive enough votes in the senate. So a resolution was proposed known as the congressional joint resolution, or the new lands resolution. McKinley signed a resolution that would annex Hawaii in July 7, 1898. In 1900, President McKinley would sign the Organic Act which officially made Hawaii a territory of the United States. In 1959, Hawaii had become a state.
Minister John L. Stevens
Minister John Stevens was assigned to Hawaii to give advice and America’s demands. However he was a racist and believed that the white race was superior. Stevens viewed the Hawaiians the same way that the Committee of Safety viewed them. He believed that the Hawaiians were childlike, unfit to rule and barbaric. Queen Liliuokalani tries to create a new Constitution for the Hawaiians but it gave an excuse for the United States to use military force. Steven then orders a Coup De Tat or a change in the government. Minister Stevens ordered troops to land in Honolulu and declare a Provisional Government. Queen Liliuokalani and her supporters protested against the United States president and congress. However the Provisional Government remained in force with Sanford Dole as the president. In 1894, Minister Stevens proclaimed the new Republic of Hawaii. The Queen would not surrender to this Provisional Government but instead to the United States government.
Historical Significance
Conclusion
Is Hawaii Legally and Lawfully a State of the Union
Hawaii is not legally and lawfully a State of the Union because when Cleveland sent Blount to Hawaii, he reported that the overthrow was illegal, immoral, and an act of war. However McKinley and Stevens proposed resolutions, acts and the provisional government that would lead to the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom.