Events That Led to the Overthrown

  • King David Kalakaua elected

    King David Kalakaua elected
    King David Kalakaua was the last king to reign in Hawaii; he was not born into royalty but was elected by the Hawaiian legislature.
  • Reciprocity Treaty

    Reciprocity Treaty
    After the Civil War, sugar was not in demand anymore. King Lunalilo and the Hawaiian government proposed a treaty in 1848 with the US being unresponsive. However, King Kalakaua was successful in negotiating a treaty. The treaty provided for duty-free import of Hawaiian and US agricultural products.
  • Bayonet Constitution

    Bayonet Constitution
    The constitution was written by Lorrin A. Thurston. It got its name from King David Kalakaua being forced to sign the constitution at gunpoint. The constitution stripped the monarchy of its authority and empowered the Americans without legal Hawaiian citizenship.
  • The McKinley Tariff

    The McKinley Tariff
    William McKinley created an act to raised import rates on foreign sugar, causing Hawaii's sugar planters to be undersold in the American market, ruining its economy.
  • The Death of King David Kalakaua

    The Death of King David Kalakaua
    On a trip to the west, King David would die of kidney disease.
  • Ascended to the Throne

     Ascended to the Throne
    When King Kalakaua died Queen Liliuokalani was next in line to take the throne.
  • The Queens New Constitution

    The Queens New Constitution
    During the rule of Queen Liliuokalani was making a new constitution. This constitution would have gotten rid of the bayonet constitution.This would give power back to the monarchy.
  • The Beginning of the Overthrown

    The Beginning of the Overthrown
    A group of 13 white businessmen and lawyers under Sanford Ballard Dole (Committee of Safety) planned to overthrow Queen Liliuokalani and her government. When Queen Liliuokalani proposed a new constitution the Committee of Safety learned about the plans and gained members among the cabinet. Later, the members refused to support the queen’s new constitution.
  • The Queens Last Efforts and Capture

    The Queens Last Efforts and Capture
    In the last attempts, the hawaiian loyalists tried to restore power to Queen Liliuokalani. However, they arrested her and made sure she gets rid of future claims to the throne, being put under a trial and locked her in her room.