The Annexation of Hawaii

8th Grade ReviewThe U.S. purchased Alaska from Russia in 1867,

for 7.2 million dollars. Russia was worried that war with Britain would result in the loss of Alaska, so they wanted to sell it first. Here is the check…

"I Liliuokalani, by the Grace of God and under the Constitution of the Hawaiian Kingdom, Queen, do hereby solemnly protest against any and all acts done against myself and the Constitutional Government of the Hawaiian Kingdom by certain persons claiming to have established a Provisional Government of and for this Kingdom."That I yield to the superior force of the United States of America whose Minister Plenipotentiary (having full authority), His Excellency John L. Stevens, has caused United States troops to be landed at Honolulu and declared that he would support the Provisional Government.

"Now to avoid any collision of armed forces, and perhaps the loss of life, I do this under protest and impelled by said force yield my authority until such time as the Government of the United States shall, upon facts being presented to it, undo the action of its representatives and reinstate me in the authority which I claim as the Constitutional Sovereign of the Hawaiian Islands."- Queen Liliuokalani, Jan 17, 1893

Joint Resolution In the House, November 15th, 1993

On December 18, 1893, President Grover Cleveland, in a message to Congress described the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii as 'an

act of war committed with the participation of a diplomatic representative of the United States

without the authority of Congress,' and he acknowledged that by such acts, the

government of a peaceful and friendly people was overthrown.

To this day, no official apology has ever been made to native Hawaiians, nor has there ever been an attempt at a federal policy addressing their rights.

U.S. Senator Daniel Akaka of Hawaii has said, 'the deprivation of Hawaiian sovereignty, which began a century ago, has had devastating effects on the health, culture, and social conditions of native Hawaiians, with consequences that are evident throughout the islands today.'

Senator Akaka, a native Hawaiian whose grandparents were present during the overthrow of the Hawaiian government is absolutely correct when he says that, too often, when American policymakers think about native Americans, they mistakenly consider only native American Indians and Alaska Natives as native peoples of the United States.

Mr. Speaker, native Hawaiians are, indeed, native Americans. While they are culturally Polynesian, they are descendants of the aboriginal people who occupied and exercised sovereignty in the area that now constitutes our 50th State of Hawaii. In addition to a formal apology to the people of Hawaii, it is also time for the Federal Government to develop a comprehensive Federal policy that addresses the needs of the native American people of Hawaii.

Mr. Speaker, after 100 years, it is time for the U.S. Congress to offer a formal apology to the noble people of Hawaii for the overthrow of their legitimate government - it is the least we can do. While this apology will not bring back their land which we stole; bring back their culture which we destroyed; or, bring back their spirit which we broke; Senate Joint Resolve 19 will begin the process of reconciliation with my brothers and sisters of Hawaii.

Senator Akaka in WWII

The Annexation of HawaiiUNITED STATES PUBLIC LAW 103-150

103d Congress Joint Resolution 19Nov. 23, 1993

Senate Yeas-65, Nays 34

President Clinton signs Public Law 103-150, the "Apology Resolution" to Native Hawaiians, on November 23, 1993, as Vice-President Gore and Hawaii's Congressional delegation look on: Sen. Daniel Inouye, Rep. Patsy Mink, Rep. Neil Abercrombie, and Sen. Daniel Akaka (Left to Right)

To acknowledge the 100th anniversary of the January 17, 1893 overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii, and to offer an apology to Native Hawaiians on behalf of the United States for the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii.

Why Hawaii?

NASA image from 2003

Brief Timeline of Hawaii• 500-300 BCE - Archaeological

evidence suggests that Hawaii was first settled by Polynesian peoples before the time of Christ (BCE = Before Common Era)

• 1778 – British Captain James Cook is first known European to discover Hawaii

• 1800s – The U.S. and other nations began arriving &building sugarcane &pineapple plantations

• 1893 – Hawaii was forced to give up its sovereignty

• 1898 – U.S. annexes Hawaii

• 1959 – Hawaii becomes 50th state

Why were European countries and the United States interested in Hawaii in the first place?

• Natural resources like sugar and pineapples• It served as a strategic fueling station for ships in

the Pacific• It would be a perfect place for military naval base

Hawaii Becomes American

In 1887, a secret society known as the Hawaiian League (aka The Annexation Club) was created as an offshoot of the political group, the Committee of Safety. It’s goal was U.S. annexation of Hawaii.

A paramilitary force known as the Honolulu Rifles worked with the Hawaiian League and on July 6th, 1887 forced King David Kalakaua to sign a new constitution at gunpoint, often referred to as the “Bayonet Constitution”. Unlike Britain's constitutional monarchy, this constitution did not have the rights of the people as the center of its focus.

1882

Under this new constitution, 75% of ethnic Hawaiians could not vote at all because of the gender, literacy, property, and age requirements. Instead, non-Hawaiian citizens were allowed to vote. Several efforts by the Hawaiian people to restore the monarchy failed.

In 1890, King David Kalākaua’s health began to deteriorate and he went to San Francisco for medical attention. He died on January 20th, 1891. His final words were “Tell my people I tried.” Since he had no children, his sister Liliuokalani became queen.

In 1893, Queen Liliʻuokalani tried to establish a new constitution so the Committee of Safety requested U.S. military support in response. On January 16th, 162 U.S. Marines aboard the USS Boston arrived on the shores of Hawaii. The following day, she was deposed from the throne.President Grover Cleveland was an anti-imperialist and was outspoken against the U.S. military removal of the queen. But the Hawaiian League and Committee of Safety knew they only had to wait until his term was over. President William McKinley became President in 1897.

A two-thirds majority, required for ratification of an annexation treaty, could not be reached, so instead, in 1898, Congress passed a joint resolution in the House June 15, 1898, by a vote of 209 to 91, and by the Senate on July 6, 1898, by a vote of 42 to 21, to annex Hawaii.

USS Boston

Annexation CeremonyHonolulu, Hawaii, August 12th,1898

Pictured here is Sanford Dole, the cousin of James Dole who came to Hawaii in 1899 and founded the Hawaiian Pineapple Company, which later became the Dole Food Company. Here, Dole accepts the transfer of power to the United States.

“On the morning of Aug. 12, 1898, troops from the warship USS Philadelphia

came ashore for the ceremony at 'Iolani

Palace.

It was a bitter day for Lili'uokalani, who refused to attend the ceremony

and remained at Washington Place,

surrounded by family, nobles and other

loyalists.

To the strains of "Hawai'i Pono'i" the national anthem that later became the state song, the Hawaiian flag was lowered, and as the strains of "The Star-Spangled Banner" filled the air, the U.S. flag was raised. It was said that nightfall on the day of annexation brought a wail of sorrow from Hawaiians that could be heard throughout Honolulu.” - taken from Hawaiian newspaper the Honolulu Advertiser

• In 1910, Queen Liliuokalani unsuccessfully sued the U.S. government for 4th Amendment violations when seizing her country and property.

• Queen Liliuokalani died in 1917 due to complications from a stroke. She was 79. She was the last monarch of Hawaii.

Circa 1917

1993 – 15,000 march on 100 year anniversary to

protest for Hawaiian sovereignty

GROUP DECLARES HAWAIIAN INDEPENDENCE

400 gather at rally on palace groundsThe Honolulu Advertiser

Monday, January 17, 1994

Hawaii Governor Bans U.S. FlagThe Los Angeles TimesJanuary 17, 1993

During the five-day centennial commemoration of the overthrow of Hawaii's last Queen, Hawaii Gov. John Waihee has ordered the U.S. flag not be flown over state buildings, according to the Associated Press.Not flying the Star and Stripes again until Monday is "an appropriate reminder" of U.S. involvement in the overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani, Waihee said during Wednesday's opening ceremonies.

In addition, Hawaii's state flag will be flown at half-mast on Capitol Hill in Washington during the centennial, said Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii).

“Unarmed security guards from the Hawaiian Kingdom Government group allowed only Hawaiians, media and students to enter. Tourists, employees and the general public were kept out for hours until the conflict was peacefully resolved and the palace grounds opened.

Hawaiian activists have long used Iolani Palace, the site of Queen Liliuokalani's imprisonment following the 1893 U.S. overthrow, as a prime location for protests of the United States' occupation of the islands.”

Religion, politics, and economics all in one…