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Period: to
Overthrow of the Hawaiian Monarchy
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King Kalakaua went to the mainland to negotiate with US officials
Key Players: King Kalakaua, US Congress
The king negotiated with US officials to trade with the United States without duty or taxes. He visited Washington D.C, New York, and Boston. His efforts would soon be rewarded with the Reciprocity Treaty. -
The Reciprocity Treaty
Key Players: US officials and foreign sugar planters
A treaty that allowed Hawaiian Sugar planters to sell their products to the US without having to pay taxes and vice versa. Led to large American investments in Hawaiian sugar plantations. -
The Bayonet Constitution
Key Players: King Kalakaua and The Hawaiian League
Forcibly signed by King Kalakaua after foreigners surrounded him and Iolani Palace with bayonets. The constitution took away authority from the king through the implementation of a legislative cabinet as well as allowed foreigners the right to vote in Hawaiian elections. However, it limited a large majority of natives who could vote as well as completely excluded Asian people due to income and land requirements. -
Foreigners gained the right to vote and forced themselves into political cabinets
Key Players: Foreign businessmen and King Kalakaua
This right was given to them under The Bayonet Constitution. Under the document, power was transformed from being an absolute monarchy to having to share power under a cabinet. This part of the constitution gave more power to foreigners as they could halt the legislature introduced by the king. -
The Wilcox Rebellion
Key Players: Robert Wilcox, King Kalakaua, Queen Liliuokalani
An armed rebellion led by Robert Wilcox to force King Kalakaua to reinforce the Hawaiian Constitution of 1864. Members of the Honolulu Rifles had surrounded Iolani palace but Queen Liliuokalani ordered the guard to not fire unless they entered the palace. -
The McKinley Tariff
Key Players: William McKinley and Lorrin A. Thurston
William McKinley raised duty on imports to protect domestic production which led to Hawaiian sugar planters losing their edge in the sugar market and losing a lot of their profits due to still being a separate country. This led to the Hawaiian League and Lorrin A. Thurston wanting to pass the annexation of Hawaii. -
King Kalakaua Died and Queen Liliuokalani took the throne
Key Players: King Kalakaua and Queen Liliuokalani
King Kalakaua died on January 20, 1891, while in California. He had two funerals, one in San Francisco and one in Honolulu. When Queen Liliuokalani succeeded him, she became the first woman to ever reign over the Hawaiian monarchy. -
The Queen's new constitution
Key Players: Queen Liliuokalani
The Queen secretly drafted a new constitution that would restore more power to the Hawaiian monarchy. It would allow her final decision and signing on all bills that petition to be passed, take away voting rights from foreigners, and reduce property requirements. -
The Queen was imprisoned in Iolani Palace
Key Players: The Committee of Safety and Queen Liliuokalani
Foreigners were highly upset when they found out that the Queen had plans to try and restore power to the Hawaiian people so the Committee of Safety imprisoned her in Iolani Palace. It was there that she was forced to relinquish all claims to the throne, fined $5000, and sentenced to five years of hard labor. This ultimately led to the overthrow of the Hawaiian Monarchy.