Hawaiian Monarchy Essay

677 Words3 Pages

The Immorality of the Overthrow of the Hawaiian Monarchy Throughout the overthrow of the Hawaiian Monarchy in 1893 and the annexation of the islands as a territory, to the statehood granted in 1959, the United States has committed immoral and unnecessary actions against the indigenous people of Hawaii. Queen Liliuokalani had been freshly bestowed the position of reigning sovereignty in 1891, after the current king Kalakaua had passed away and the second-in-line, W.P. Leleiohoku, had already died. She was the first and last ruling Queen of the Hawaiian monarchy, and she was displeased with the state of the monarchy after her brothers rule. The monarchy had lost power under Kalakaua after he had been forced to sign the Bayonet constitution, a …show more content…

In an attempt to ensure her people the voice and protection they deserve, Queen Liliuokalani wished to create a new constitution. Being a queen who listens to her people, what sparked her goal of a new conversation was that she had been approached by many natives, all alluding to the official proclamation on a new constitution. “Until these conversations, it had not occurred to me as possible to take such a step in the interest of the native people; but after these parties had spoken to me, I began to give the subject my careful consideration” (227). Queen Liliuokalani began to chase the idea of a new constitution, one that would allow the people more power as well as strengthening the monarchy Her failed attempts at reconstructing her nation 's constitution angered those with financial interests both in Hawaii and outside of Hawaii. These businessmen were concerned, and this gave them reason to support the end of Hawaii’s monarchy. Many of these businessmen had formed a political party called the “down-town” party. The goals of this party were to further their own business, specifically by putting down other interests of the nation. This party focused as well on subverting the prerogatives of the