What series of events in Hawaii led up to the United States annexing it in 1898?
The series of events in Hawaii that led up to the United States annexing it in 1898 can be summarized as follows:
1. Arrival of American Missionaries: In the early 19th century, American missionaries arrived in Hawaii with the intention of spreading Christianity. They established missions, schools, and introduced Western ideas and practices.
2. Influence of American Planters: By the mid-19th century, American planters, mainly sugar planters, started arriving in Hawaii. They established large plantations and acquired significant landholdings. These American planters began to exercise substantial economic and political influence in Hawaii.
3. Overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani: In 1891, Queen Liliuokalani ascended to the throne of Hawaii. She sought to establish a new constitution that would strengthen the monarchy and restore power to the native Hawaiians at the expense of the American planters. However, the American planters, backed by the United States' diplomatic and military support, organized a coup and overthrew Queen Liliuokalani in 1893.
4. Provisional Government and Annexation: Following the overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani, the American planters formed a provisional government, which sought annexation to the United States. They believed that annexation would secure their economic interests and protect them from potential retaliation from the queen's supporters. The provisional government lobbied for annexation, and negotiations began between the government representatives and the United States.
5. Cleveland Administration and Failed Annexation: In 1893, President Grover Cleveland opposed the annexation of Hawaii, criticizing the overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani as an illegal and unjust action. Cleveland withdrew the annexation treaty from consideration by the Senate and tried to restore Queen Liliuokalani to power. However, the American planters and their supporters in Hawaii resisted this intervention.
6. Annexation under President McKinley: In 1898, after President William McKinley took office, the situation in Hawaii changed. Amid the Spanish-American War, the strategic importance of the Hawaiian islands increased, leading to a shift in the United States' policy. McKinley signed a joint resolution of annexation that was passed by Congress, and Hawaii officially became a United States territory in July 1898.
Overall, the series of events leading up to the annexation of Hawaii involved American missionaries, the influence of American planters, the overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani, and the subsequent efforts of the provisional government to secure annexation. These events ultimately led to the United States' effective control and formal annexation of Hawaii in 1898.