Annexation Of Hawaii

The acquisition of Hawaii can be described as a bitter over throwing of the queen, Lydia Kamakaeha Liliuokalani, and her government by a group of American planters who were interested in nothing more than creating a fortune. The issue brought in many figures including United States soldiers, Presidents Benjamin Harrison, Grover Cleveland and William McKinley, Sanford Dole, and nonetheless, congress. Although Hawaii was interested in sugar trade with the United States, they were not typically pleased about the conspired annexation that the U.S claimed as manifest destiny. However, the acquisition of Hawaii did benefit America as it was a ‘“stepping-stone to the growing trade of the Pacific,’” according to Grover Cleveland (Tindall and Shi 696). …show more content…
This agreement stated that Hawaii Sugar would enter the United States duty-free if Hawaii promised that none of its territory would be granted to a third power (Tindall and Shi 696). When this agreement formed, a sugar boom occurred which resulted in a small fortune for the American planters in Hawaii. Soon, things started to become complicated when the American government forced the Hawaiian king to convert the monarchy to a constitutional government. Also, the relationship between the two became heated when Hawaii was not the only country on the United States duty-free sugar list anymore. In 1893, the American planters (aided by U.S. soldiers) overthrew Queen Liliuokalani’s government while also seizing 1.75 million acres of land. They had to throw her over because she tried to eliminate the political power gained by the American