The book Overthrow by Stephen Kinzer is a collection of stories describing different events in which the U.S. overthrew foreign and oppressive governments, or simply governments that were not beneficial for America. One of the stories he included was America’s annexation of Hawaii, a massive turning point in our country’s history. However, The way Kinzer writes and retells the story is slightly biased towards the side of the Hawaiians. This makes for a story that may change peoples perspectives on an important piece of history. The Majority of the accounts and sources he credits are Hawaiian, and the U.S. is not as well represented in his bibliography.…
“When Kamehameha died in 1819, his son Liholiho (Kamehameha II) inherited the throne. Kamehameha's favorite wife, Ka'ahumanu, actually wielded more power, however, and effectively ran the government” (Sovereignty, Sin, and Salvation). Ka'ahumanu wanted to destroy the kapu system but Liholiho and the chiefs didn’t approve of it. A battle occurred and Ka'ahumanu won. When the missionaries from England arrived in the island, they wanted to convert the Hawaiians into Christians.…
The annexation of Hawaii by the United States was a great idea by Congress and President McKinley. It was an area that was ideal for sugar growing and it was a place for the U.S. to be able to have more control of the Pacific Ocean. With the annexation of Hawaii, many opportunities opened up for the United States.…
The biggest issue for the annexation of Hawaii dealt with American-Hawaiian sugar planting corporations. Perhaps if Hawaii decided to become a territory of the United States, most of this business could abstain the McKinley tariff. The McKinley tariff had a terrible effect on Hawaii. Over time Hawaii had gained the interest of American businessmen in the remunerative sugar trade. Because of the Federal Government, providing noble terms to the sugar planters of Hawaii in the convention of 1849 and 1875 American businessmen had collected large fortunes in the islands.…
The Hawaiian Islands were the first of the nations the United States sought after, due to its center for sugar production. The McKinley tariff, raising barriers against Hawaiian sugar, pushed the United States towards annexing Hawaii mainly for the product. Queen Liliuokalani defended Hawaii against the Americans, but was overthrown in 1893, leading up to the year of annexation in 1898 (Doc G). The map of America’s influence and overall empire was expanded, and continued to expand when the Cubans revolted against Spanish rule due to the crippled sugar production from the McKinley tariff. The insurrectos of Cuba tried to drive out the Spanish using scorched-earth methods, while Butcher Weyler tried to crush the rebellion.…
Kamehameha was never expected to rule any of the islands, nor was the next designated heir for the chief’s place. A Long time ago before Kamehameha was born, Hawaiians arrived at the Hawaiian islands, establishing villages and kapu’s. The Hawaiians accustomed to their new home, learning about its land and agriculture, such as taro, potatoes, and how to fish for seafood. They learned how to maintain their sources by placing laws on the number of food caught or harvested. Kamehameha was then born much later, and helped bring the Hawaiian islands to unification.…
On January 17, 1893 the Hawaiian Monarchy was overthrown by the American residents in Hawaii. Queen Lili’uokalani who was Hawaii’s first queen who took over the crown in 1891 and other Native Hawaiians wanted to stop the United States from taking over their land. Many Americans believed that the annexation was in Hawaii’s best interest but failed to take account of the benefits the United States would get for overthrowing their kingdom. With Hawaii’s sugar industry rapidly growing, there was no doubt about other foreign countries being interested in overthrowing the kingdom. Interests in sugar exports were increasing, and the profits were benefitting from gain of bounty and the supply of cheap labor.…
Hawaii was a hot commodity for sugar and just as in the south, field owners saw profit from cheap labor. Once Hawaii became a U.S. territory so did the laws, which also as in the south excluded Haloes from social, civil, and political rights for the interest of free white men. Glenn says (pg. 192), “Privatization of land enabled the nascent Anglo American oligarchy to establish a plantation based economy relying at first on Native Hawaiian labor and later on imported Asian labor.” The emergence of property rights also arise here. What the Hawaiians had once owned was now taken by whites and as usual the whites or Anglo Americans could do what they want because they were the only ones who had a say so since non-whites were not citizens and most definitely could not own property.…
Imperialism is “a policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force” (Google). There were many causes of new imperialism, including political, economic, religious, ideological, and exploratory forces. Economic forces deal with money and trade. Political forces deal with territory, power, expand, influence, and competition. Social forces deal with ideological, religious, and cultural values.…
Finally the U.S wanted Hawaii so no other power, like the British Empire or Japan, would take it. The annexation of Hawaii caused many benefits and negative consequences for the Hawaiian people. Hawaiians got protection for being an American territory. The United States Government would protect Hawaiians from any other countries.…
Essay 1 The years after the Civil War to the turn of the 20th Century should be seen as American imperialism, because all expansions during the era were either approved, or instigated by the US government. To start I would like to take a look at how the Hawaii expansion was handled, it was first taken over by nearby US Marines that were station nearby before the government had learned of what happened. The Us Marines were ordered to capture the present ruler, Queen Lili’uokalani, by a US fruit company, The United Fruit Company.…
The acquisition of Hawaii can be described as a bitter over throwing of the queen, Lydia Kamakaeha Liliuokalani, and her government by a group of American planters who were interested in nothing more than creating a fortune. The issue brought in many figures including United States soldiers, Presidents Benjamin Harrison, Grover Cleveland and William McKinley, Sanford Dole, and nonetheless, congress. Although Hawaii was interested in sugar trade with the United States, they were not typically pleased about the conspired annexation that the U.S claimed as manifest destiny. However, the acquisition of Hawaii did benefit America as it was a ‘“stepping-stone to the growing trade of the Pacific,’” according to Grover Cleveland (Tindall and Shi 696).…
Annexation of Hawaii and the Last Monarch Queen Liliuokalani, the last monarch of the Hawaiian Islands, had to make many difficult decisions during her reign to try to preserve the Hawaiian way of life for the native people. An elite class of American businessmen and landowners had a different idea and were involved in getting a new constitution instituted which removed much of the monarch’s power. Queen Liliuokalani had been born to high ranking chiefs. When she was born she was adopted by Abner Paki and Laura Konai, the granddaughter of King Kamehameha I. She had attended royal school and was fluent in the English language.…
A country’s thirst for power, which is the ability to control people, has always been great. To achieve the goal of becoming the best and most powerful country there is. To be able to control people like puppets, and when the country becomes strong and powerful imperialism occurs. The stronger country takes advantage of the weaker country and dominates them either socially, economically, and politically, if not all.…
Economically, an example is seen through their dealings with Hawaii. In 1876 the United States signed a treaty with Hawaii, which let American markets have free access to Hawaiian sugar without paying for sugar. Furthermore, when Queen Liliuokalani showed her frustrations at these treaties, the U.S overthrew the queen and annexed Hawaii. The patriotic mission is also seen through this scenario as America need HAwaii as a strategic point to help take over the Philippines. Their conquering of the Philippines was motivated by the ideals of Patriotism as well as the idea that Americans needed lands to create more enterprises.…