<P> The native population succumbed to disease brought by the Europeans ( particularly smallpox ) , declining from 300,000 in the 1770s over 60,000 in the 1850s to 24,000 in 1920 . Americans within the kingdom government rewrote the constitution , severely curtailing the power of King `` David '' Kalākaua , and disenfranchising the rights of most Native Hawaiians and Asian citizens to vote , through excessively high property and income requirements . This gave a sizeable advantage to plantation owners . Queen Liliuokalani attempted to restore royal powers in 1893 , but was placed under house arrest by businessmen with help from the US military . Against the Queen 's wishes , the Republic of Hawaii was formed for a short time . This government agreed on behalf of Hawaii to join the US in 1898 as the Territory of Hawaii . In 1959 , the islands became the state of Hawaii of the United States . </P>
<P> The native population succumbed to disease brought by the Europeans ( particularly smallpox ) , declining from 300,000 in the 1770s over 60,000 in the 1850s to 24,000 in 1920 . Americans within the kingdom government rewrote the constitution , severely curtailing the power of King `` David '' Kalākaua , and disenfranchising the rights of most Native Hawaiians and Asian citizens to vote , through excessively high property and income requirements . This gave a sizeable advantage to plantation owners . Queen Liliuokalani attempted to restore royal powers in 1893 , but was placed under house arrest by businessmen with help from the US military . Against the Queen 's wishes , the Republic of Hawaii was formed for a short time . This government agreed on behalf of Hawaii to join the US in 1898 as the Territory of Hawaii . In 1959 , the islands became the state of Hawaii of the United States . </P>
when did the us take possession of hawaii
when did the us take possession of hawaii
1898
1898