Hawaiian Annexation and Queen Lili'uokalani

Hawaiian Annexation and Queen Lili'uokalani

• In January 1895, Queen Lili'uokalani, ruler of Hawaii, was arrested and imprisoned.
• This followed a power grab by a group that seized her diaries, ransacked her home, and claimed her lands.
• American missionaries arrived decades earlier in Hawaii, and quickly gained influence. They established businesses and claimed arable land, converting it into plantations.
• The ali'i (Hawaiian nobility) had worked with the missionaries, and they helped establish Hawaii as a kingdom with a constitutional monarchy.
• Later, some descendants viewed potential sugar exports to the U.S. as their next big business opportunity, and they shifted their position, forming the Missionary Party.
• The Missionary Party plotted to annex Hawaii, effectively bringing it under US control.
• Queen Lili'uokalani’s brother, Kalākaua was the prior ruler; thirteen years into his reign, the Missionary Party's growing threat became evident. Forced to sign a new constitution (later the "Bayonet Constitution"), it diminished the monarchy’s power, taking away rights from Native Hawaiians.
• When Kalākaua died, Lili’uokalani assumed the throne, determined to restore power to her people.
• In 1893, a coup d'état took place. The "Committee of Safety" (primarily Missionary Party members), claiming that Lili'uokalani's new constitution endangered American lives/property, staged a coup.
• Over 160 US Marines, supporting the coup, removed Lili'uokalani from office.
• The coup resulted in protest from many Hawaiians.
• Hawaii was declared a Republic the following year.
• Lili'uokalani was subsequently placed under house arrest, and then imprisoned in the palace, eventually signing a document relinquishing her throne.
• Despite imprisonment, she maintained strong ties with her people, expressing her love through songs and quilting.
• She travelled to Washington DC to attempt to convince Congress to halt the annexation treaty. Her efforts were, initially, successful.
• However, the Spanish-American War began, and President William McKinley declared Hawaii a US Territory in 1898, violating international law, to be used as a military base.
• Lili'uokalani spent her remaining years campaigning for the restoration of her lands and the rights of Native Hawaiians.
• She died in 1917, with her aims unfulfilled. A key figure in the annexation, however, had wished in the past to “obliterate the past” of the situation.
• Despite these efforts, Lili'uokalani left a enduring legacy for her people.

Key Figures and Events

• Queen Lili'uokalani: Queen of Hawaii, imprisoned for resisting US annexation
• Kalākaua: Queen Lili'uokalani's brother and previous king
• Missionary Party: The political group advocating for Hawaii's annexation
• Bayonet Constitution: Legislation imposed by the Missionary party stripping rights from Native Hawaiians
• Committee of Safety: Plotters involved in the coup.
• Coup of 1893: The overthrow of Lili'uokalani's government
• Annexation of Hawaii (1898): Hawaii formally became a U.S. territory
• Spanish-American War: Triggered the US to take Hawaii as a military base

Key Concepts

• Ali'i: Hawaiian nobility
• Aloha ʻĀina: Love of the nation, Hawaiian concept.
• Nationalism: Strong loyalty to one's nation

This quiz explores the events surrounding the Hawaiian Annexation and the role of Queen Lili'uokalani. It delves into the influence of American missionaries, the rise of the Missionary Party, and the political challenges faced by the Hawaiian monarchy. Test your knowledge of this pivotal moment in Hawaiian history.