The Complexity Behind the Annexation of Hawaii: A Tapestry of Economic, Political, and Social Dynamics
Quick Note from the author: I chose to write about this issue due to the recent fires in Lahaina, and I have found that doing research for the issues that have been rough to light from that tragedy led me through so much information I felt it was easiest to start at the beginning, with Hawaii’s history. I have worked diligently to try and provide an accurate and thorough picture of all the information I am sharing. However, if any information is incorrect, don’t hesitate to contact me via email at jamie@flawedbydesignllc.com so I can make any needed corrections.
“The annexation of distant possessions seems but the natural outcome of a sense of political responsibility coupled with modern means of communication and transportation.” — Theodore Roosevelt.
The annexation of Hawaii cannot be reduced to a simple act of American imperialism nor attributed to a singular driving force or entity. Instead, it represents a complex interplay of evolving economic, political, and social dynamics that unfolded over an extended period, inevitably steering the archipelago into the maw of American expansionist ambitions.
Economic Factors Influencing the Annexation of Hawaii
Sugar Plantations
The ascendance of sugar plantations in the wane of the 19th century triggered a seismic transformation in Hawaii’s economic landscape. Rapidly metamorphosing into the linchpin of the archipelago’s financial well-being, these sprawling agricultural enterprises employed a vast workforce and catapulted Hawaii into the global sugar market. Such economic vitality, however, proved to be a double-edged sword. It drew the attention of external powers, notably the United States, opening avenues for them to wield substantial economic leverage over the Hawaiian Islands.
Trade Relations
The codification of trade relations between Hawaii and the United States reached a pivotal juncture with enacting the Reciprocity Treaty of 1875. This groundbreaking accord allowed Hawaiian sugar to flow into the U.S. market without import duties and granted the United States exclusive rights to use Pearl Harbor as a strategic naval base. Far from being a simple trade agreement, the treaty functioned as a linchpin that deepened America’s economic stakes in the Hawaiian Islands. This, in turn, exponentially escalated the clamor for Hawaii’s annexation, solidifying the archipelago’s entanglement in a complex web of American imperialistic ambitions.
Business Interests: The American Entrepreneurial Wave in Hawaii
The meteoric rise of Hawaii’s sugar industry didn’t go unnoticed; it became a magnet for American entrepreneurs and industrialists who poured substantial capital into the islands’ plantations and infrastructural development. Figures like Claus Spreckels weren’t merely bystanders; they became architects of Hawaii’s burgeoning economic landscape. Their investments did more than generate profit — they were calculated moves that often aimed to align Hawaii more closely with the United States, culminating in calls for annexation to secure and amplify their financial foothold.
Political Factors Influencing the Annexation of Hawaii
U.S. Expansionism
The late 19th and early 20th centuries marked an era of unapologetic territorial aspirations for the United States. Driven by the ideology of Manifest Destiny, which justified the expansion across the continental U.S., America began to cast its gaze beyond its shores. With its strategic geographic position in the Pacific, Hawaii emerged as an exotic destination and an essential jigsaw piece in America’s broader expansionist mosaic. It was not just an island paradise but a geopolitical asset perfectly aligned with the United States’ grander imperial ambitions.
Strategic Importance
Far from being just a tropical paradise, Hawaii’s geographical significance was clear to American policymakers long before its annexation. Nestled in the heart of the Pacific Ocean, the archipelago served as a vital stepping stone between the American mainland and burgeoning Asian markets. The Reciprocity Treaty of 1875 did more than facilitate a sugar trade; it granted the U.S. exclusive access to the strategic Pearl Harbor, a prelude to the military advantages keenly eyed by U.S. naval strategists.
Internal Politics
Yet, the path to annexation was only partially paved by American ambitions. Hawaii’s political unrest also smoothed it. The ‘Bayonet Constitution’ imposition on King Kalākaua curtailed royal powers and laid bare the vulnerabilities within Hawaii’s governance. Queen Liliuokalani’s later efforts to restore sovereignty only exacerbated this instability. In an already fragile landscape, these internal shifts provided ample opportunities for foreign powers, particularly the United States, to maneuver Hawaii into a position ripe for annexation.
The Intersection of Economic and Political Factors: The Tangled Web of Annexation
Lili’uokalani’s Reign: A Queen’s Struggle for Sovereignty
Queen Lili’uokalani, the last monarch of Hawaii, championed the restoration of her kingdom’s sovereignty and sought to shield it from foreign encroachment. Her reign marked an ambitious effort to enact a new constitution that would reestablish the voting rights of native Hawaiians and curtail the influence of foreign business interests. While her endeavors found resonance among native Hawaiians, they raised alarm bells for American investors and entrepreneurs, whose financial stakes in Hawaii suddenly seemed jeopardized.
Coup d’État: A Pivotal Juxtaposition of Economics and Politics
The overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893 served as the watershed moment for Hawaii’s financial and political trajectories to converge. Orchestrated by Sanford B. Dole and bolstered by U.S. Minister John L. Stevens, the Committee of Safety exploited the reigning political volatility to execute a coup. This forceful dethronement dissolved Hawaiian self-governance and laid bare the meticulous years of economic and political scheming to advance Hawaii into the American tapestry.
Lobbying and Influence: The Silent Hand Guiding the Scales
The powerbrokers of the American sugar industry and other invested entrepreneurs were far from mere spectators. Their lobbying efforts reached the hallowed halls of Washington, echoing into policy chambers. By wielding significant influence, they managed to intertwine their economic aspirations with political agendas. This intricate synergy of financial and political motives significantly molded U.S. policy toward Hawaii, creating an environment that made annexation impossible and increasingly inevitable.
Path to Annexation: The Tragic Eclipse of Hawaii’s Independence
Provisional Government: A Stepping Stone to Annexation
In the wake of the monarchy’s downfall, Sanford B. Dole took the reins of a Provisional Government, assuming the title of President. While the government outwardly functioned as an independent republic, its underpinnings were engineered to fast-track Hawaii’s annexation to the United States. In an overt display of power dynamics, the Provisional Government disenfranchised native Hawaiians, thereby consolidating governance into the hands of American businessmen and foreign investors.
Newlands Resolution: The Legislative Nail in the Coffin
The annexation of Hawaii was legitimized through the Newlands Resolution, a piece of legislation passed by the U.S. Congress in 1898. This act served as the death knell for Hawaiian sovereignty, effectively extinguishing its independent status. Despite vigorous opposition from Queen Lili’uokalani and a significant portion of the native Hawaiian population, the Newlands Resolution was enacted, irreversibly altering the destiny of the Hawaiian archipelago.
Resistance and Compliance: A Divided Response
The annexation evoked a spectrum of responses within Hawaii and on the international stage. While Queen Lili’uokalani and many native Hawaiians mounted resistance campaigns, their efforts to sway the trajectory were ultimately in vain. Even petitions and pleas for intervention could not halt the American steamroller. On the global front, the lack of significant intervention was mainly due to vested economic interests. Many nations found themselves economically aligned with American ambitions in Hawaii. Thus, any potential for international obstruction to annexation was sidelined.
The Intricate Weave of Hawaii’s Annexation — Beyond a Simple Tale of Imperialism
The annexation of Hawaii is not a monolithic tale of American imperialism. Still, it is a complex narrative interwoven with economic, political, and social threads that span decades. From its burgeoning sugar industry that attracted American entrepreneurs like Claus Spreckels to the political machinations such as the Reciprocity Treaty of 1875, which deepened U.S. economic stakes, Hawaii was gradually entangled in a web of American interests.
While the United States eyed Hawaii as an essential asset in its larger expansionist agenda, epitomized by ideologies like Manifest Destiny, the internal political landscape of Hawaii also played a pivotal role. Queen Lili’uokalani’s fight to regain Hawaiian sovereignty intensified the pressures and created an opportune moment for intervention, leading to the watershed coup 1893.
Sanford B. Dole’s Provisional Government and the subsequent Newlands Resolution of 1898 were the final nails in the coffin, sealing Hawaii’s fate as part of the United States despite significant domestic and foreign resistance.
In essence, the annexation was the culmination of many factors — economic pressures from vested business interests, political ideologies, strategic military objectives, and even Hawaii’s internal struggles — all converging to steer Hawaii inexorably into the ambit of American expansionism.
Closing Thoughts: A Lens into History and Modern-Day Ramifications
Understanding the annexation of Hawaii requires delving into a labyrinth of economic and political factors that were in motion long before the final acts were executed. It is an intricate tapestry spun from many interests — business lobbies, political agendas, and even the internal strife within Hawaii itself.
Understanding why Hawaii became part of the U.S. is more than just learning history. It helps us make sense of the issues and changes that Hawaii is going through today. I invite you to dig deeper into this vital part of Hawaii’s past. Knowing more about what happened back then can help us make better choices for the future.
*Some of these links take you to Amazon. I do NOT get any commission if you purchase them; they are hyperlinked in case you want to read more about this topic.
Sources:
“Hawaii Under the Rule of the American Oligarchy” by William A. Russ — Published in Pacific Historical Review, discusses the Reciprocity Treaty and its implications.
“The Imperial Cruise: A Secret History of Empire and War” by James Bradley — Examines the role of American businessmen and policymakers in the Pacific, including Hawaii.
“The Hawaiian Revolution (1893–94)” by William Adam Russ — Published in The Mississippi Valley Historical Review, this article discusses the military and strategic calculations behind the annexation.
“The Betrayal of Liliuokalani: Last Queen of Hawaii, 1838–1917” by Helena G. Allen — Detailed account of Queen Lili’uokalani’s reign and attempts to preserve Hawaiian independence.
About the Author
Jamie Hairston, M.S. (Christian Counseling of Substance Abuse and Addictive Disorders)
Jamie is a former addiction counselor who now writes fiction about substance abuse and mental health issues. She has authored two short novels in her Memoirs of a Black Sheep series and a series she co-authors, The Borderline Chronicles, on Amazon Kindle Vella. Jamie has also formed her own small publishing company, Flawed By Design Publishing LLC, where she produces her published works and offers other writing and media services.
Flawed by Design is a woman-owned, veteran-owned business for those who seek a writing coach, editor, or proofreader.