USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -House Joint Resolution 259, 55th Congress, 2nd session, known as the “Newlands Resolution, ” passed Congress and was signed into law by President McKinley on July 7, 1898-the Hawaiian islands were officially annexed by the United States. Sanford Dole became the first Governor of the Territory of Hawaii.

Detailed explanation-2: -U.S. military leaders feared potential Japanese occupation of the islands and created a strategic naval base in the center of the Pacific. This provided enough fuel in Congress to pass annexation legislation, in order to save themselves from the perceived “threat of the Asiatics.” Hawaii was annexed in 1898.

Detailed explanation-3: -1959: Alaska and Hawaii admitted, respectively, as the 49th and 50th states of the Union.

Detailed explanation-4: -Here is a small sampling of the many congressional records that highlight Hawaii’s long path to statehood. On August 21, 1959 Hawaii became the 50th state.