e hoʻomaha me ka maluhia
An Island Life Taken Away
Thesis
On January 17, 1896 the overthrow of the Hawaiian kingdom would not have been possible if President Harrison, President Cleveland and Minister John L. Steven.
President Benjamin Harrison
President Harrison and the congress planned to annex the Hawaiian Islands. He sent an annexation treaty to the senate to have it confirmed but the new president withdrew the treaty just for the purpose of re-examination. President Harrison showed king Kalakaua a treaty that prevents Hawaii from being taxed on the sugar that they are sending to the United States. At first King Kalakaua refused to sign the treaty but President Harrison was able to force Kalakaua to sign the treaty which earned him the figure headed chief name all because of Harrison. A second reciprocity treaty then was created. This treaty required Hawaii to hand over Pearl Harbor so that the United States could use its port for its sugar exports and some military purposes. Kalakaua then was forced to sign a constitution which was the bayonet constitution which gave the white foreigners even those who did not take the oath of allegiance the power to control the Hawaiian legislator and cabinet even if they didn't want to.
President Grover Cleveland
President Grover Cleveland was the one who withdrew the treaty of President Harrison for the purpose of re-examination. President Cleveland was also the one who sided on Queen Liliuokalani and replace the American stars and stripes back to the Hawaiian Flag in Honolulu. President Cleveland was the one who ordered a study of the Hawaiian revolution. He was against the annexation that is why he wrote that "the provisional government owes its existence to an armed invasion by the United States." he thought that this was a wrong doing and was an act of war. He was the only one who wanted the monarchy to be restored out of all the Americans but then was rejected by the congress. At first they thought he would do something but he did nothing at all. President Cleveland also sent secretary James Blount a 1400 word report on what was ILLEGAL and IMMORAL. In the end he was still considered a part of the United States because even if he fought against the Americans he stopped when the congress rejected him.
Minister John L. Stevens
Minister John L Stevens was summoned by Sanford B. Dole. Stevens was assigned to Hawaii to represent the United States. In all matters including political representation of the United States. Stevens said that Hawaiians were child like and that they were unfit to rule, he called them semi-barbaric. He does not only call them semi-barbaric but he also supports the committee of Safety which is the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom. The committee of safety talks to him about supporting the Coup DE tat and he agrees. He was the one who gave orders to the marines to disassemble ships and marchers to downtown Honolulu, which was the beginning of overthrow of the Queen. He plays a big role in the overthrow because he was brae enough to threaten the Queen to surrender and that he tells Queen Liliuokalani that he will kill the Hawaiians if she refuses and he succeeds.
Historical Significance
On January 17, 1896 the overthrow of the Hawaiian kingdom would not have been possible if President Harrison, President Cleveland and Minister John L. Steven. This topic is important because it explains how the history of Hawaii has changed overtime and it explains how Hawaii is now. It gives us the knowledge on what really happened to Hawaii and how the Hawaiians suffered and the effects of these men who joined in with its overthrow.
Is Hawai`i Legally and Lawfully a State of the Union
Hawaii is not legally and lawfully a state of the union because Hawaii never wanted to be controlled by any one other than themselves. They all shared their crops their place and they all considered each other as a family. No one controlled them but they believed in their chiefs. Hawaii was taken away from the Hawaiians by the foreigners. They forced the Kings to do things they didn't want to, they planned behind their back and they even threatened them if they didn't comply. The Kings and Queen fought but ended up losing just so no Hawaiians get hurt or die. That is why Hawaii was not legally and lawfully a state of the Union because they never agreed in the first place.
Supplemental Information
Short Clip of the Overthrow of Hawaiian Kingdom
Breathe Hawaiian: Overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom (Chris Kamana, Kumukanawai)
Cites
"BALLADEER'S BLOG'S PRESIDENTIAL ACTION AND HORROR FILMS."Balladeers Blog. N.p., 05 Jan. 2013. Web. 13 Mar. 2015.
"Ben Harrison Camp No. 356 - SUVCW, Department of Indiana." Ben Harrison Camp No. 356 - SUVCW, Department of Indiana. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2015.
"Breathe Hawaiian: Overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom (Chris Kamana, Kumukanawai)." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2015.
"Digital History." Digital History. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Mar. 2015.
"U.S. Minister John L. Stevens." Pacific Gibraltar USJapanese Rivalry over the Annexation of Hawaii 18851898. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Mar. 2015.