1. Ch. 26b – The United States Takes Hawaii

2. Alfred Thayer Mahan
His father was a professor at the United States Military Academy.
He attended an evangelical college prep school and then did two years at Columbia.
Against his parents’ wishes, he transferred to the US Naval Academy.

3. Naval Career
He served for the Union in the Civil War starting as a lieutenant.
He was eventually promoted to a commander and then a captain in 1872 and 1885.
He was appointed as a lecturer of naval tactics and history at the US Naval College in Newport, Rhode Island in 1885.
It was in this position that he elaborated on his theory in books and articles.

4. Naval Dominance Theory
Featured in The Influence of Seas Power Upon History (1890)
Mahan thought that the key to world control was control of the ocean and certain “chokepoints”
By mastering the seas countries could also gain huge benefits from trade
Six Fundamental Elements of Sea Power:
Geographical Position
Physical Conformation
Extent of Territory
Size of Population
Character of the People
Character of Government

5. Hawaii
Independent kingdom in the Pacific Ocean (1810 – King Kamehameha)
Since 1790s, American merchants had stopped there on way to China and East India
Missionaries - Christian schools and churches
Misinterpreted the Hawaiian Culture – believing that living in a paradise had kept them from progressing
Then came the sugar merchants (Economic Opportunity)…
Who do you think the first and most successful American company in Hawaii was?
Hawaii was an independent kingdom in the Pacific Ocean. In the 1800s, American missionaries arrived, followed by those seeking economic opportunities. Among the first and most successful American companies in Hawaii was the Dole Pineapple Company. With the aid of a wealthy American businessman, a coup overthrew Queen Liliuokalani in 1894, and Hawaii became a republic. Sanford Dole was “elected” president; in 1898, Sanford Dole gave the U.S. permission to annex the nation.

6. Hawaii
In mid 19th century – American-owned sugar plantations accounted for about ¾’s of the islands wealth
Who worked these plantations? – laborers from Japan, Portugal, and China
1900 – they outnumbered NATIVE HAWAIIANS (3 to 1)

7. Hawaii White Planters! Who benefited from close ties with US –
1) Sale of Hawaiian sugar without a duty – what’s a duty? (def: tax)
2) White business leaders forced King Kalakaua to change Hawaii’s constitution to grant voting rights only to wealthy landowners…so who did this basically give control of Hawaii’s government to?
White Planters!
AMERICAN BUSINESSMEN
3) US strong-armed Hawaii into allowing a naval base to be built at… where?
PEARL HARBOR

8. This would have restored political power to Native Hawaiians
When King Kalakaua died in 1891, his sister Liliuokalani became queen
Educated in US
Rallied against US rule
Hawaii for Hawaiians
She proposed a new constitution that would remove owning property qualifications from voting
This would have restored political power to Native Hawaiians
HOWEVER THIS WAS PREVENTED FROM HAPPENING… (let’s take a look)

9. Hawaii
With the aid of wealthy American businessmen and US ambassador (John L. Stevens), a coup to overthrew Queen Liliuokalani was planned
On the night of January 16th 1893, the U.S.S. Boston appeared in Honolulu harbor
American marines moved ashore (supposed mission – to protect American lives and property)
At same time, volunteer troops took over government building and imprisoned the queen in her palace

10. Queen Liliuokalani saw it was hopeless and sadly surrendered her throne
Ambassador John Stevens reported to Washington
“The Hawaiian pear is now fully ripe, and this is the golden hour for the US to pluck it.”

11. My cousin started the Dole Pineapple company
Hawaii
And who became the president of this provisional (def: temporary ) government (without a popular vote)?
Why it was
me… Sanford B. Dole!
My cousin started the Dole Pineapple company

12. What happened to the Queen?
New government found her GUILTY of treason (her alleged knowledge of a counterrevolutionary attempt by her supporters) and sentenced her to five years of hard labor and a $5,000 fine.
Hard Labor sentence was NOT carried out HOWEVER she was placed under house arrest.
After 8 months was released on parole, but she was forbidden to leave the island of O‘ahu.
Died in 1917

13. How did they (businessmen and Stevens) get away with this?
Claimed that they were overthrowing a corrupt, immoral regime in order to advance democratic principles
Also that another western power was likely to acquire the islands and Hawaii had a fine harbor

14. Hawaii
Stevens immediately recognized the provisional government who sent commission to Washington D.C.
Asked that the islands be annexed (def: To incorporate (territory) into an existing political unit such as a country )
BUT after a special investigation, Stevens ( ) was blamed for revolution (forced into retirement)
President Cleveland tried to restore Queen to her throne “By an act of war…a substantial wrong has been done”
US Ambassador

15. Hawaii NOT THAT SIMPLE… Dole refused to surrender power!
So Cleveland (unwilling to use force) formally recognized the Republic of Hawaii BUT he refused to consider annexation unless A MAJORITY OF HAWAIIANS FAVORED IT

16. Hawaii
But then William McKinley (favoring annexation) succeeded Cleveland as president
His political platform claimed Hawaii may be annexed by Japan if US did not act.
Congress then proclaimed Hawaii an American territory without Hawaiians having had the chance to vote on annexation
In 1993, Congress passed and President Clinton signed an Apology Resolution apologizing for the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii a century before
However…issues still con’t today…