Illegal Annexation
"The Life of the Land is NOT perpetuated in sovereignty"
Thesis
U.S Minister John L. Stevens
John L. Steven was the US minister stationed in Hawaii during the process of Hawaii's annexation. Stevens was a racist man who looked down on many Hawaiians because of their lack of knowledge and skin color. He said that they had no idea how to run a government because they weren’t “smart”. On the day of January 17th, 1893, Stevens ordered the US Marine troops to land in Oahu to establish a provisional government. This illegal order was declared without the United State government’s permission or knowledge about it. Stevens knew that gaining Hawaii as a territory was essential for the Hawaiian economy and military and it would also free them from the having to pay taxes just to import sugar to the United States. Without his order of sending troops to the Hawaiian Islands to protect the US provisional government from Hawaiian revolt, it would’ve been an absolute that the Hawaiians would have attacked the Committee of Safety and others who were trying to get Hawaii annexed.
President Benjamin Harrison
President Benjamin Harrison was in office during the years of King Kalakaua’s reign (1889-1893). President Harrison was a president at the time when the United States had thoughts about expanding their power and territories. President Harrison wrote a letter to the senate stating why Hawaii should get annexed and wanted the island of Hawaii because he saw its military and economic importance. He stated that Hawaii’s current government was in no condition of governing themselves because he believed that “the white man” had the power and authority to rule. He also said that other powerful nations such as Great Britain, France, Germany, Japan, and China couldn’t grab a hold of Hawaii or else it would ruin their chance of becoming a world empire. With his mind set of annexing Hawaii to the United States, his presidency term sadly ended for him and he was replaced as president. Although, with his establishment of the first and second reciprocity treaty along with the Bayonet Constitution, it was difficult for the Hawaiians to gain their power for their own land back.
President Grover Cleveland
President Grover Cleveland was the president during Queen Liliuokalani’s reign in the years of 1891-1893. President Cleveland sent his Secretary named Blount to investigate what was going on in Hawaii. There, Secretary Blount interviewed many of the people who were a part of the Committee of Safety and Queen Liliuokalani as well. After he found out what was going on during the time, he reported back to President Cleveland saying that this action of annexation currently being done was “immoral and illegal”! Cleveland specifically said that annexation was an “Act of war” and wanted Thurston along with Dole to stop this process by lowering the American flag and returning Hawaii back to the Queen and its original owners. Dole and his provisional government did lower down the American flags but they refused to let go of Hawaii. Although Cleveland tried to force them, the committee of safety threatened Cleveland to attack them if he wants them to let go of Hawaii. Cleveland didn’t want to kill any Americans even though he knew that what they were doing was wrong. So, because Cleveland let them go, he also allowed Hawaii to be stolen from its rightful owner. If Cleveland would’ve stood his ground and sent military force to get the Committee of Safety members to cease their plan, Hawaii would’ve have gotten annexed.
Historical Significance
The United States role in the Hawaiian Kingdom’s overthrow was massive with US Minister John L. Stevens, President Harrison, and President Cleveland’s contribution and response to the situation of Hawaii’s annexation. This event is essential because it expanded United States power but it also shows how the kingdom of Hawaii was wrongly taken away from its original owners, the Hawaiians. I want the reader to know about how Hawaii was illegally annexed and how it’s an illegal state of the United States. I also want the reader to know that United States didn’t always do what was right to gain power and for the reader to feel empathy towards the Hawaiian Kingdom then and the kingdom that still lives on now.
Is Hawaii Legally and Lawfully a State of The Union?
Hawaii is not a legal and lawful state of the union. The annexation process was a compelling process that threatened the Hawaiian Kingdom to do what they were told by the United States or else blood will be shed. Because the kingdom of Hawaii valued its people, it had to other choice but to let it go. Also, there was no treaty to this Annexation because the Hawaiians were against it from the start.
Final Stage of Illegal Annexation
Citations
"The 1897 Petition Against the Annexation of Hawaii." National Archives and Records
Administration. National Archives and Records Administration, n.d. Web. 02 Mar. 2015.
"Benjamin Harrison - Phi Delta Theta Fraternity." Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Mar. 2015.
"Dispatches From Curt â€." Big Island Chronicle RSS. N.p., 19 Aug. 2009. Web. 12 Mar. 2015.
Grover Cleveland. Digital image. Wikia. N.p., n.d. Web.
"Miller Center." Message Regarding Hawaiian Annexation (February 15, 1893)-. 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.