Title: Why was the territory of Hawaii an ideal acquisition for the US? - eNotes.com
Headings: Why was the territory of Hawaii an ideal acquisition for the US?
Annexation of Hawaii
Why was the territory of Hawaii an ideal acquisition for the US?
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Content: Annexing Hawaii turned out to be a good move by the United States. Having a military base in the Pacific region helped us tremendously when we fought against Japan in World War II. The sugar trade also benefited the American economy. Further Reading
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The Hawaiian Islands were an ideal piece of real estate for a number of reasons. First, it's mid-Pacific location gave the U.S. a strong position to influence the growth of that particular economic sphere. As Japan and a number of European counties began expanding into the Pacific region, the U.S. needed a place beyond the shores of California to act a naval base in order to establish some sort of dominance in this region. Hawaii would eventually become the headquarters of the navy's department of the pacific after it was aquired. Hawaii's agricultural wealth was also an important incentive for U.S. aquisiotion. The sugar industry on the islands was extreamly lucrative, and with a 1899 hurricane destroying much of Puerto Rico's sugar industry infastructure, Hawaii was even more of a money making venture. For these reasons, the U.S. officially annexed Hawaii as a territory in 1897.