Annexation of Hawaii

Summary

In January 1893, a group of powerful American planters, led by Sanford Dole, orchestrated a coup in Hawaii, aiming to annex the island and protect their sugar interests. With the backing of U.S. Marines, they overthrew Queen Liliuokalani's government. Despite an initial push for annexation, President Grover Cleveland resisted, responding to the wishes of the Hawaiian people who wanted their queen restored. Hawaii's strategic position in the Pacific made it a valuable asset for both military and trade interests. This event highlighted a larger debate in American foreign policy between expansionists and those who questioned imperialism.

Takeaways

• 😀 Hawaii's annexation became a key event in U.S. expansionism in January 1893 when powerful white planters, led by Sanford Dole, orchestrated a coup.
• 😀 The goal of the coup was to protect sugar interests and counteract Queen Liliuokalani's opposition to American influence in Hawaii.
• 😀 The U.S. Marines supported the coup to help secure American economic and military interests in the Pacific.
• 😀 Within days of the coup, a new government was established, a new constitution was written, and the U.S. flag was raised over Hawaii's government buildings.
• 😀 In February 1893, a treaty of annexation was proposed, but a change in U.S. leadership in March shifted the approach.
• 😀 President Grover Cleveland resisted the annexation effort and sent a commissioner to assess the sentiment of the Hawaiian people.
• 😀 The Hawaiian people overwhelmingly wanted the return of Queen Liliuokalani, leading Cleveland to withdraw U.S. Marines and abandon the annexation plan.
• 😀 Hawaii's strategic location in the Pacific was a major factor in American interests, especially for trade and military reasons.
• 😀 The U.S. saw Hawaii as an important link between the U.S. and Asia, with Pearl Harbor becoming a significant military asset.
• 😀 The Hawaiian affair revealed a growing debate within the U.S. between expansionists and those who questioned acquiring far-flung territories.
• 😀 Despite resistance, expansionists gained influence in the 1890s, setting the stage for the U.S. to assert itself as a global power by the turn of the century.

Q & A

What event took place in January 1893 regarding Hawaii?

In January 1893, a group of powerful white planters, led by Sanford Dole, staged a coup to overthrow Queen Liliuokalani, with the goal of annexing Hawaii to the United States.

Why did the white planters want to overthrow the Queen?

The planters wanted to overthrow Queen Liliuokalani because they were concerned about changes in U.S. tariffs that could hurt their sugar interests, and because the Queen was showing signs of opposing the strong American influence in Hawaii.

What role did the U.S. Marines play in the coup?

The U.S. Marines were sent to Hawaii by the U.S. government to back the coup and protect American interests during the overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani.

What was the reaction of the U.S. government to the coup?

Forces within the U.S. government approved the coup, as they wanted to secure American commercial and military interests in the Pacific.

What happened after the coup in Hawaii?

After the coup, a new government was formed, a new constitution was written, and the American flag was raised over the government buildings in Hawaii.

How did President Grover Cleveland respond to the situation in Hawaii?

President Grover Cleveland resisted the pressure for annexation, sent a commissioner to assess the sentiment of the Hawaiian people, and when they wanted Queen Liliuokalani restored, he ordered the Marines to leave and decided to distance himself from the issue.

What did the Hawaiian people want regarding their leadership?

The Hawaiian people overwhelmingly indicated that they wanted Queen Liliuokalani restored to the throne after the coup.

Why was Hawaii strategically important to the United States?

Hawaii was strategically located in the Pacific Ocean, marking the western edge of America's sphere of influence and offering a crucial military and commercial position halfway to China, as well as being a key stop for Asian trade.

What was the significance of Pearl Harbor in the Hawaiian situation?

Pearl Harbor was a significant military asset for the United States, and the U.S. had exclusive rights to it since 1887, which made Hawaii's strategic importance even greater.

How did the U.S. foreign policy shift in the 1890s?

In the 1890s, there was an emerging struggle between those advocating for aggressive expansionism and those questioning the wisdom of acquiring distant territories. Expansionists gained influence, leading to the U.S. asserting its role as a global power by the turn of the century.