USA HISTORY

AMERICAN IMPERIALISM(1890 1919)

AMERICAN IMPERIALISM

[SOURCES]
What prompted US government to participate in 1893 overthrow of Hawaiian monarchy?

(A) Colonization of Pacific islands near Hawaii by European nations

(B) Kidnapping of Christian missionaries by Hawaiian nationalists

(C) ** Queen Liliuokalani’s attempt to reduce political influence of American sugar planters

(D) King Kalakaua’s discussions with Japanese government to lease Pearl Harbor

EXPLANATIONS BELOW

Concept note-1: -When Queen Liliuokalani moved to establish a stronger monarchy, Americans under the leadership of Samuel Dole deposed her in 1893. The planters’ belief that a coup and annexation by the United States would remove the threat of a devastating tariff on their sugar also spurred them to action.

Concept note-2: -Pro-American business interests had overthrown the Queen when she rejected constitutional limits on her powers. The new government realized that Hawaii was too small and militarily weak to survive in a world of aggressive imperialism, especially on the part of Japan. It was eager for American annexation.

Concept note-3: -In January 1893, a revolutionary “Committee of Safety, ” organized by Sanford B. Dole, staged a coup against Queen Liliuokalani with the tacit support of the United States. On February 1, Minister John Stevens recognized Dole’s new government on his own authority and proclaimed Hawaii a U.S. protectorate.

Concept note-4: -On January 16, 1893, United States troops invaded the Hawaiian Kingdom without just cause, which led to a conditional surrender by the Hawaiian Kingdom’s executive monarch, Her Majesty Queen Lili’uokalani, the following day.

Concept note-5: -In January 1893, a group of American and European businessmen, with the support of U.S. Minister John Stevens and a contingent of U.S. Marines, staged a coup to depose the queen. Liliuokalani surrendered, with hopes of appealing to President Cleveland to reinstate her.