Forget the Monarch
Featuring the self-centered administrators
Thesis
Minister John L. Stevens
John Leavitt Stevens played a crucial role in the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom. In 1893, Stevens was the U.S. minister to the Kingdom of Hawaii to protect American lives--- accused of conspiring to overthrow the Hawaiian government. He was a part of the Committee of Safety-- a annexation club; holding a political office and representing United States. He felt as if Hawaiians were childlike and unfit to rule--- as if Queen Liliuokalani and David Kalakaua were semi-barbaric. As he supported the Committee of Safety, Stevens also supported Coup d tat and threatened the monarchs of Hawaii. Without permission from Congress he gave orders to United State Marines off Boston to go to downtown Honolulu to proclaim Hawaii into United States procreation. This resulted in threatening the Queen however, she never surrendered to the provisional government but to the United States.
President Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison, a Republican, was elected to the presidency in 1888, defeating the Democratic incumbent Grover Cleveland. This was during the reign of King David Kalakaua. In 1876 the United States made a deal with Hawaii which was the Reciprocity Treaty. This deal dealt with tax free sugar exported from Hawaii to the United States. In 1887, another deal that the two countries have planned was the Bayonet Constitution. This deal was similar to the Reciprocity Treaty however, Harrison planned to have an exchange that included the annexation of Pearl Harbor. He planned to use Pearl Harbor as a military base. Kalakaua was then forced to sign the annexation by the foreigners threat. Two thirds votes were needed to make Hawaii part of the United States. When the treaty of annexation for new government was signed it couldn’t be verified due to a new elected President, Cleveland.
President William McKinley
In the late 1800’s, the 25th president was elected, President William McKinley. He strongly believed in New Imperialism-- colonial expansion. He too, was in favor of annexation. During this time, the Spanish-American war took place in the Pacific. This resulted in Pearl Harbor as a desired strategic value for a naval military base. Since he was in favor of annexation, President William McKinley submitted a treaty to the United States Senate for ratification. This resulted in a submission of petition from the Queens and delegates which resulted in a treaty that was defeated in Senate. He proposed a joint resolution on July 7, 1897, resulting in a simple majority vote in both houses called the ‘Newlands Resolution’ which was then signed into law. On June 14, 1900, Hawaii was finally under United States soil and the Monarchy has come to an end.
Significance of the Overthrow
Is Hawaii Legally and Lawfully A State of the Union?
Moreover, it is legally a state of the Union because it does not have its own monarch, like I said the United States has its territory on the islands. It does not have independence and freedom like back then (before it was annexed and dominated by foreigners).
Adding onto being lawfully, it somewhat is. The Hawaiians do have more respect comparing to before (High school just for Hawaiians-- King Kamehameha school, scholarships for having Hawaiian ancestor, basically giving back to the Hawaiians for what the United States have done.
Overall I think Hawaii is legally and lawfully a state of the Union, even though there were many issues back then, Hawaii is considered territory under the United States; sadly for the Hawaiians but it is considered independent United Nations states.