New Perspectives

New Perspectives

The annexation of Hawaii wasn't a clear fight. You had Hawaiians against Hawaiians and Americans against Americans. There were tons of mixed feelings. President Cleveland actually wanted Queen Liliuokalani to be back on the throne, so he didn't let Hawaii get annexed when he was in office. 

Some Hawaiians Did Support

 In Hawaii annexation was brought up a couple of times. In the 1850s King Kamehameha the 3rd actually supported the idea of annexation to America. He believed that it would help with political stability, but it didn't go forward. 


There was also a group called the Reform Party. The Reform Party was mostly made up of Caucasians, but it did have part-Hawaiian members. This party wanted to become a republic and get rid of the monarchy government. 

King Kamehameha 3rd

“About Kauikeaouli | Kauikeaouli.” Kamehameha Schools, https://www.ksbe.edu/kauikeaouli/about-kauikeaouli. Accessed 26 January 2025.

U.S. Government Didn't support it at First

 We know that President Cleveland didn't support annexation, but the Senate also didn't support it at first. President McKinley couldn't get the 2/3 vote. But the Spanish-American War changed things. President McKinley said that Hawaii was a necessity in the war, and that's what caused the rest of the government to agree. They used a joint resolution which can be used for emergencies.

Joint Resolution for the Annexation

Joint Resolution of July 7, 1898, Public Resolution 55-51, 30 STAT 750, to Provide for Annexing the Hawaiian Islands to the United States; 7/7/1898; Enrolled Acts and Resolutions of Congress, 1789 - 2011; General Records of the United States Government, Record Group 11; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/joint-resolution-hawaiian-islands, January 27, 2025]

Joint Resolution of July 7, 1898, Public Resolution 55-51, 30 STAT 750, to Provide for Annexing the Hawaiian Islands to the United States; 7/7/1898; Enrolled Acts and Resolutions of Congress, 1789 - 2011; General Records of the United States Government, Record Group 11; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/joint-resolution-hawaiian-islands, January 27, 2025]