Overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom

1. Overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom MAIN EVENTS

2. Vocabulary • Agricultural goods: fruits, vegetables, grains and other farmed foods. • Annexation: The joining of one thing to another, usually countries or pieces of land • Hawaiian League: An organization of mostly foreigner businessmen, sugar planters and bankers. • Committee of Safety: A group within the Hawaiian League that planned the Overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom • Honolulu Rifles: The militia of the Hawaiian League/Committee of Safety • Ascension: rising up • Ali'iolani Hale: The seat of government; the main government building • Provisional: temporary

3. Reciprocity Treaty Extension • In 1887 the Extension of the reciprocity treaty was renewed. • Hawai'i again could sell sugar to the United States without tariffs (import taxes) • The United States was given Pearl Harbor for use as a naval station

4. The McKinley Act - 1890 • The law reduced tariffs on many agricultural goods (including sugar) from ALL foreign countries. • The law made the sugar growers of Hawai'i believe that treaties with the U.S. were not permanent enough to secure their future profits.

5. Haole Business Community Response • Annexation to the United States became the goal of many of the foreign business elite (Thurston, Dole, etc.) many of whom were members of the Hawaiian League • A group of men from within the Hawaiian League formed club that became known as the Committee of Safety. • The group met occasionally, in secret, to plan to achieve their goal of Hawaiian annexation to the U.S (Hawai'i becoming a part of the U.S.)

6. Quick Quiz • What two things did the Reciprocity Treaty extension do? • What was the McKinley Act? How did it affect the Haole businessmen of Hawai'i? • What was the Committee of Safety? What was their goal?

7. King Kalākaua Dies - 1891 • King David Kalākaua died in San Francisco while receiving medical attention for kidney-related health problems. • Lili'uokalani, his sister, took her oath as Queen of the Kingdom of Hawaii

8. Hawai'i’s Last Queen • Upon her ascension to the thrown Lili'uokalani toured her Kingdom • After this tour she believed that in order to help her people she needed her to regain the power lost by the Bayonet Constitution

9. Business Community Freaks Out • The foreign business community realized that Liliuokalani’s new constitution… • Might give back voting rights to Asian immigrants and poorer Hawaiians • Might reduce their power and therefore make annexation to the U.S. impossible • They believed that this would be a disaster for their sugar profits • The Committee of Safety began planning to remove Lili'uokalani from power.

10. Quick Quiz • What did Queen Lili'uokalani do when she ascended to the thrown? • What did she want to do afterwards? • Why did the business community freak out?

11. The Overthrow Begins

12. January 15, 1893 • The Committee of Safety met and decided to form a new government • John Stevens, the American Ambassador to Hawai'i, sent a message to the Queen saying that he would not support her if there was an attempt to overthrow her

13. January 16, 1893 • Committee of Safety members formally told John Stevens that they request the landing of American troops to protect American lives and property • John Stevens presents his written request for troops to come ashore to the Captain of the U.S.S. Boston • He is only allowed to do this if American lives or property are at risk • In reality, they are not

14. January 16, 1893 • While the Queen was away from her offices at a meeting, The U.S. troops were told to take positions that defended the Honolulu Rifles/Committee of Safety Members from the Queen’s Royal Guards. • The U.S. troops were told not to let the Royal Guard or the Queen back into the government buildings • It was a bloodless standoff • The Committee of Safety began planning their roles in a new government

15. January 17, 1893 • Lili'uokalani was advised not to use force against the Honolulu Rifles • Her advisors worried what the American troops would do if the Queen’s Guards attacked the Honolulu Rifles • Lili'uokalani, not knowing what to do, sent a note to Ambassador Stevens promising not to change the constitution if he removed the U.S. troops • He did not respond, and the troops remained.

16. January 17, 1893 • The Committee of Safety formally announced a new government after taking over the Ali'iolani Hale (the seat of government) • John Stevens recognizes the new government – The provisional government -as legitimate on behalf of the United States

17. Lili'uokalani Yields Power • She yields power to the United States (not the provisional government) in the hopes that one day the United States will restore her to the thrown. • The Hawaiian Kingdom is no more. • Sanford Dole becomes President of the Provisional Government

18. Quick Quiz Put ‘em in order __ Kalākaua dies in San Francisco __ McKinley Act scares business community into wanting annexation of Hawai'i to the U.S. __ Queen Lili'uokalani wants to write a new constitution __ Queen Lili'uokalani yields power to the United States __ U.S. troops do not let Lili'uokalani or her guards into the government buildings __ Lili'uokalani and her advisors are worried what the American troops will do if her guards arrest/attack the Honolulu Rifles __ John Stevens summons U.S. troops ashore to “protect” American lives and property __ Ambassador Stevens recognizes the new government as the legitimate government on behalf of the U.S. __ Committee of Safety begins planning overthrow __ Sanford Dole becomes President of Provisional Gov.