The End of Hawaii's Independence
The end of Hawaiian sovereignty
Thesis
The Overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom was plotted out by likes of Minister John L. Stevens, Pres. Mckinley , and Pres. Harrison.
John L. Stevens
Minister John L. Stevens was assigned to Hawaii to represent U.S. on all matters. John L. Stevens was a confederate in the civil war in America and at the time he was also a racist. He claims that " Hawaiians are child like, they are unfit to rule, and are semi-barbaric". Stevens also supported the overthrow of the Hawaiian by supporting the committee of safety. On January 14, 1893 Stevens also gave orders to marines without permission from the president to march downtown and threaten the queen to surrender Hawaii. The queen surrendered not to the U.S. Government but to the supreme powers of the UNITED STATES. Queen Lili'uokalani surrendered lowering her troops having the group honolulu rifles take over government buildings to declare there own provisional government. On February 9, 1893 Minister Stevens established a negotiations for the annexation of Hawaii but when president grover came in control he stopped all discussion of annexation.
President Mckinley
President Mckinley had a big role in the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom by the annexation of Hawaii. He saw the islands of Hawaii the perfect place for a military base. During the Spanish and American war - pearl harbor was desired for its strategic value. In favor of annexation signed a treaty of annexation. After the failure of annexation, a joint resolution, which only takes a majority vote in both senate and house of representatives. This was submitted to the congress with success. Although under American law this resolution was not enough to assume legal control of a territory. Mckinley still didn't stop, on the steps of iolani palace the flag of the Hawaiian Kingdom was brought down and the flag of the United States was raised. Soon the annexation made its way to house of represntatives on May 4, 1898. The senate passed the measure on July 6 and Mckinley signed it a day later. The United States took formal possesion of the islands August 12, 1898.
President Harrison
Harrison was the president during the reign of Kalakaua. (1887)After the war Pearl Harbor was used for the export of sugar from Hawaii. The Reciprocity treaty was shown to Kalakaua by Harrison and was made so that Hawaii wouldn't be charged a tariff or a tax on the sugar they sent to the US. The second Reciprocity treaty was the same as the first one but in this treaty, Hawaii had to sign over Pearl Harbor sp the US could use its ports for exportation of sugar and military purposes In 1887 Kalakaua was forced to sign the bayonet constitution which gave white foreigners, even those who had not taken the oath of allegiance, the power to control the Hawaiian legislator and Cabinet. The native Hawaiians was disenfranchised in 1897 and was introduced to the treaty of annexation which made Hawaii apart of the US.
Historical Significance
The Overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom was plotted out by likes of Minister John L. Stevens, Pres. Mckinley , and Pres. Harrison. This was important to history by explaining how Hawaii became apart of the U.S. This affected the long term significance by making Hawaii apart of the U.S. and still going by the U.S. law to this day.
Hawaii legally and lawfully a state of the Union
My opinion on the Overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom is that it was done illegally and not right for Hawaiian people. That being said, Hawaii should not be a state because the offenses that happen back then only was done for the money and political control of a strategic location. The only way Hawaii should become a state is through the vote of the people.
Supplemental information
This picture shows the American flag raising over the hawaiian flag showing that the Hawaiian Kingdom is now gone and that Hawaii is now annexed to America. American also controlls Hawaii as an American Terrioty.
CITE
- Website Title: + Hawaii Alive
- Article Title: Standards Overview
- Date Accessed: March 12, 2015
- Website Title: American President: American President
- Article Title: Miller Center
- Date Accessed: March 12, 2015
Asynopsis of traditional hawaiian culture, the events leading to the 1887 bayonet constitution and the over throw of the Hawaiian Government (0 AD - 18980