Title: Petition Against the Annexation of Hawaii | Encyclopedia.com
Headings: Petition Against the Annexation of Hawaii
Petition Against the Annexation of Hawaii
Petition Against the Annexation of Hawaii
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INTRODUCTION
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PETITION AGAINST ANNEXATION OF HAWAII
SIGNIFICANCE
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Content: INTRODUCTION
In 1891, Queen Lili'uokalani (1838–1917) was the reigning monarch of Hawaii (locally spelled Hawai'i). However, the previous government—led by her brother King David Kalakaua (1836–1891) from 1874 to 1891—had continuing disputes with American and European businesspersons who were doing business in Hawaii, primarily in the agricultural industry as owners of sugar cane plantations. By the end of the 1890s, non-native white farmers and businesspersons had taken control over most of Hawaii's privately held land. King Kalakaua's primary goal was to preserve Hawaii's culture, which ran against powerful American and European goals. During this time, the Hawaiian economy increasingly relied on trade with the United States. Trade agreements eventually helped sugar plantation owners dominate the local economies and national politics. Perceiving the King as dishonest, unreliable, and anti-American, and wanting large tariffs to be removed from their sugar sales, a group of American and European business leaders gained control of the monarch with assistance of an armed militia. A new constitution was implemented—called the Bayonet Constitution because it was signed by Kalakaua against his wishes—which limited the authority of the King's government, focused power with wealthy white land owners, and eliminated many rights from native Hawaiians. When Queen Lili'uokalani accepted her country's leadership upon her brother's death, she attempted to return power to the native Hawaiians and resume friendly relations with the American and European business and political leaders. However, on January 16–17, 1893, a group of American sugar farmers and business leaders, along with the help of U.S. Minister to Hawaii John Stevens and Marines from the U.S.S. Boston, deposed Lili'uokalani and overthrew her monarchy.