"A Handbook on the Annexation of Hawaii"

"A Handbook on the Annexation of Hawaii"
Library of Congress Griffin, Appleton P. C. (Appleton Prentiss Clark), 1852-1926 · Public domain · source
Title	A Handbook on the Annexation of Hawaii
Author	Thurston Twigg-Smith, Lorrin Thurston, Sanford Dole
Publisher	University of Hawaii Press
Publication date	1998

"A Handbook on the Annexation of Hawaii" is a comprehensive guide to the events surrounding the annexation of Hawaii by the United States. The handbook provides a detailed account of the historical background, the annexation process, and the opposition and controversy that followed, drawing on the expertise of historians such as Gavan Daws, Noelani Arista, and Lilikalā Kameʻeleihiwa. It also explores the aftermath and legacy of the annexation, including the impact on Native Hawaiians, Queen Liliuokalani, and the Kingdom of Hawaii. The handbook is a valuable resource for scholars and researchers, including those at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Hawaii Pacific University, and the Bishop Museum.

● Introduction to

the Annexation of Hawaii The annexation of Hawaii was a complex and multifaceted process that involved the United States Congress, the Hawaii State Legislature, and various interest groups, including the Hawaii Sugar Planters' Association and the American Sugar Refining Company. Key figures such as President Benjamin Harrison, President Grover Cleveland, and Queen Liliuokalani played important roles in shaping the course of events, which were influenced by the Treaty of Paris (1898), the Spanish-American War, and the Boxer Rebellion. The annexation was also influenced by the writings of Mark Twain, Rudyard Kipling, and Jack London, who wrote about the Hawaiian Islands and their strategic importance. Scholars at the University of California, Berkeley, Harvard University, and the Library of Congress have studied the annexation and its implications.

● Historical Background of Hawaii

The historical background of Hawaii is marked by the arrival of Polynesian settlers around 1000 AD, followed by the establishment of the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1795 under the rule of King Kamehameha I. The kingdom was influenced by the British Empire, the French Empire, and the Russian Empire, and was also shaped by the Opium Wars and the Meiji Restoration. The Hawaii State Legislature and the Hawaiian Kingdom played important roles in the development of the islands, which were also influenced by the California Gold Rush and the Transcontinental Railroad. Historians such as Abraham Fornander, Martha Beckwith, and Patrick Kirch have studied the history of Hawaii and its people, including the Native Hawaiians and the aliʻi.

● The Annexation Process

The annexation process began in 1893 with the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii by a group of American and European businessmen, including Lorrin Thurston and Sanford Dole, who were supported by the United States Marine Corps and the USS Boston. The Provisional Government of Hawaii was established, and a treaty of annexation was signed in 1898, which was influenced by the Treaty of Berlin (1884), the Treaty of Shimonoseki, and the Triple Entente. The treaty was ratified by the United States Senate in 1898, despite opposition from Queen Liliuokalani and other Native Hawaiians, who were supported by the Anti-Imperialist League and the American Anti-Imperialist League. The annexation was also influenced by the Philippine-American War and the Boer Wars.

● Opposition and Controversy

The annexation of Hawaii was met with opposition and controversy, both within Hawaii and internationally, with critics such as Emma Goldman, William Jennings Bryan, and Eugene Debs arguing that it was a violation of Hawaiian sovereignty and the Hawaiian Constitution. The Native Hawaiian people, led by Queen Liliuokalani and other aliʻi, resisted the annexation and sought to restore the Kingdom of Hawaii, with support from the British Empire, the French Empire, and the Russian Empire. The controversy surrounding the annexation was also influenced by the Dreyfus affair and the Fashoda Incident. Scholars at the University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, and the Sorbonne have studied the opposition and controversy surrounding the annexation.

● Aftermath and Legacy

The aftermath of the annexation saw the establishment of the Territory of Hawaii in 1900, which was governed by the United States Congress and the Hawaii State Legislature. The Native Hawaiian people continued to resist the annexation and sought to restore their sovereignty, with support from the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. The legacy of the annexation can be seen in the ongoing struggles for Hawaiian sovereignty and the Akaka Bill, which aims to recognize the sovereignty of the Native Hawaiian people, with support from the Democratic Party (United States), the Republican Party (United States), and the Green Party of the United States. The annexation has also had a lasting impact on the Hawaiian Islands, including the Big Island, Oahu, Maui, and Kauai.

● International Recognition and Implications

The annexation of Hawaii has had significant international implications, with many countries recognizing the sovereignty of the Native Hawaiian people, including the United Nations, the European Union, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The annexation has also been influenced by international events such as the World War I, the Russian Revolution, and the Cold War, and has been the subject of study by scholars at the University of Tokyo, University of Beijing, and the Moscow State University. The international community continues to recognize the importance of Hawaiian sovereignty and the need for reconciliation and redress, with support from the International Court of Justice, the European Court of Human Rights, and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Category:History of Hawaii