Malcolm Rivera
The Bayonet Constitution of 1887 was a legal document that stripped the Hawaiian monarchy of its authority, leading to its eventual overthrow and Hawaii becoming a republic and later a US territory. The document was drafted by a group known as the Hawaiian League, which consisted primarily of American and European businessmen. It was forced upon King David Kalākaua at gunpoint, threatening his life and limiting the voting rights of native Hawaiians. The Bayonet Constitution was never ratified by the Legislative Assembly, and it has been seen as an outrage and a sham republican constitution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of imposition | 6 July 1887 |
| Drafted by | Anti-monarchists, the Hawaiian League |
| Nature of the document | Stripped the Hawaiian monarchy of its authority, transferring power to a coalition of Americans, Europeans, and native Hawaiians |
| Voting requirements | An income of $600 or taxable property of $3000 was required to vote for the upper house, excluding two-thirds of the Hawaiian population |
| Monarch's power | Removed the monarch's power to appoint members of the House of Nobles, enlarging it to 40 members |
| Ratification | Never ratified by the Legislative Assembly |
| Political changes | Led to the monarchy's overthrow in 1893 |
| Monarchy's power | Required the king to appoint a Minister of Finance to oversee government spending and submit an annual budget proposal to the legislature |
| Limitations | Placed considerable limitations on the king's power |
| Intention | To limit the king's spending, which had become a problem under Kalākaua's reign |
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What You'll Learn
The monarchy was stripped of power
The Bayonet Constitution of 1887 stripped the Hawaiian monarchy of much of its authority, transferring power to a coalition of American, European, and native Hawaiian people. The constitution was a direct threat to the king, who was forced to sign it or be deposed. The document was prepared by anti-monarchists, and it significantly limited the king's personal authority.
The king was no longer allowed to act without the consent of his cabinet, and the power to dismiss the cabinet was transferred from the king to the legislature. The monarch's power to appoint members of the House of Nobles was also removed, and the body was enlarged to 40 members, now elected by wealthy landowners to serve six-year terms. This effectively disenfranchised many Native Hawaiians, as the requirements to serve as a noble or representative included high property and income requirements.
The Bayonet Constitution also attempted to curb excessive spending, which had become an issue under King Kalākaua's reign. The constitution required the king to appoint a Minister of Finance to oversee government spending and submit an annual budget proposal to the legislature.
The constitution's voting requirements also disproportionately impacted the native population. It required an income of $600 (equivalent to US$20,998 in 2025) or taxable property of US$3000 (equivalent to US$104,989 in 2025) to vote for or serve in the upper house. This excluded approximately two-thirds of the Hawaiian population, primarily Native Hawaiians. In contrast, white male residents, often wealthy from the sugar industry, retained suffrage under the new constitution.
The Bayonet Constitution was never ratified by the Legislative Assembly and was thus never a legitimate constitution. However, it marked the beginning of the insurgency and the decline of the monarchy in Hawaii.
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The king was forced to sign at gunpoint
The Bayonet Constitution of 1887, also known as the 1887 Constitution of the Hawaiian Kingdom, was a legal document that significantly curtailed the powers of the Hawaiian monarchy. The constitution was drafted by anti-monarchists seeking to transfer power from the absolute monarchy to a coalition of American, European, and native Hawaiian people.
The document was signed by King Kalākaua on June 30, 1887, under significant duress. An armed militia group known as the Honolulu Rifles, alongside politicians from the Reform Party of the Hawaiian Kingdom, demanded that the King dismiss his Cabinet, led by Walter M. Gibson, who supported the king's authority. The group made it clear that the King would be deposed if he did not comply with their demands.
The King's sister and heir, Lili'uokalani, later revealed that her brother had signed the constitution out of fear for his life:
> [...] he had every assurance, short of actual demonstration, that the conspirators were ripe for revolution, and had taken measures to have him assassinated if he refused.
Similarly, Lili'uokalani asserted that her brother's life had indeed been threatened, stating, "He signed that constitution under absolute compulsion." The King's acquiescence took the conspirators by surprise, as they had expected him to refuse and provide them with an excuse to depose or assassinate him.
The Bayonet Constitution never received legislative ratification, and the 1864 Constitution technically remained in force. However, the new constitution significantly altered the balance of power in Hawaii, marking the beginning of the insurgency and the decline of the monarchy.
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It was never ratified by the Legislative Assembly
The 1887 Bayonet Constitution was never ratified by the Legislative Assembly, and therefore, it was never a legitimate constitution. The Legislative Assembly is the organisation, or one of the two parts of the organisation, that makes laws in some countries. In modern-day Commonwealth countries, legislative assemblies are either national or sub-national parliaments.
In the case of the 1887 Bayonet Constitution, the Legislative Assembly's role was crucial. However, the constitution was never submitted to the Legislative Assembly for their consideration and approval. This meant that the constitution lacked the necessary legitimacy and legal standing. As a result, the 1864 Constitution remained the official constitution of the country.
The Bayonet Constitution was a product of a revolt led by the Honolulu Rifles, a militia group, and politicians of the Reform Party of the Hawaiian Kingdom. They sought to limit the power of the monarchy and transfer power to a coalition of American, European, and native Hawaiian people. The constitution stripped the king of most of his personal authority, giving more power to the legislature and cabinet. It also significantly changed voting requirements, effectively disenfranchising a large portion of the native Hawaiian population.
The failure to ratify the Bayonet Constitution by the Legislative Assembly had important implications. It highlighted the coercive nature of the government that enforced the new political order through intimidation. Additionally, it demonstrated the compromised state of the legislative and judicial branches of the government at the time. The revolt led by the Honolulu Rifles had successfully influenced the Nobles, who became an elected body of men whose allegiance shifted to the foreign population.
In conclusion, the fact that the 1887 Bayonet Constitution was never ratified by the Legislative Assembly underscores the tumultuous and controversial nature of its implementation. The constitution's lack of ratification meant it did not follow the established legal pathways, further emphasising the coercive tactics used to force King Kalākaua to accept it.
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It led to the eventual overthrow of the monarchy
The Bayonet Constitution of 1887 was a legal document prepared by anti-monarchists to strip the absolute Hawaiian monarchy of its authority and transfer power to a coalition of American, European, and native Hawaiian people. The document was signed by King David Kalakaua under duress, as he was threatened with deposition and possibly assassination if he refused.
The constitution significantly limited the monarch's power and gave more authority to the legislature and cabinet of the government. It also made significant changes to voting requirements, with high property and income requirements to serve in the legislature, effectively disenfranchising two-thirds of the native Hawaiian population.
The Bayonet Constitution was never ratified by the Legislative Assembly and was seen as an illegal document by many. The Native Hawaiian population sought to restore the king's power and authority immediately after its adoption, and the queen even proposed a new constitution to restore absolute monarchy. However, these efforts were ultimately unsuccessful, and the Bayonet Constitution marked the beginning of the decline of the monarchy, leading to the eventual overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893.
The Hawaiian League, a group of reformists, played a significant role in the events leading up to the overthrow. They developed and controlled a vast majority of the Hawaiian Kingdom's wealth and sought to limit the power of the monarchy. The Honolulu Rifles, a militia group, also contributed to the coercion of the king and the enforcement of the new political order.
The illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy by US forces in 1893 was investigated by James Blount, a US Special Commissioner. He reported on the public outcry leading up to the elections and the involvement of foreign powers in the political turmoil. The Hawaiian Kingdom's struggle for independence and sovereignty during this time was marked by instability and the decline of monarchical power.
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It expanded the voting rights of foreigners
The 1887 Bayonet Constitution of the Hawaiian Kingdom was a legal document drafted by anti-monarchists to curb the powers of the Hawaiian monarchy. It was signed by King Kalākaua under duress, with the threat of armed rebellion and possible assassination. The constitution significantly altered the voting rights of foreigners and expanded their influence in the kingdom's politics.
The Bayonet Constitution instituted high property and income requirements for voting and serving in the legislature. An annual income of $600 (equivalent to US$20,998 in 2025) or taxable property worth US$3000 (equivalent to US$104,989 in 2025) was required to vote for or serve in the upper house. These requirements disproportionately favoured foreigners, particularly wealthy white male residents involved in the lucrative sugar industry. They were able to retain suffrage under the new constitution, while approximately two-thirds of the Hawaiian population lost their voting rights.
The Bayonet Constitution also altered the composition of the House of Nobles, the upper house of the legislature. Instead of being appointed by the monarch, nobles were now elected by wealthy landowners to six-year terms, with the body expanded to 40 members. The high property and income qualifications for nobles ensured that they would be predominantly non-natives, further solidifying the influence of foreigners in the kingdom's governance.
The constitution's impact on voting rights extended beyond qualification requirements. It empowered a coalition of American, European, and native Hawaiian individuals who sought to limit the power of the monarchy. The Honolulu Rifles, a militia group with foreign allegiances, played a pivotal role in enforcing the new political order. They ensured that foreign landowners drove their foreign labourers to vote, contributing to the election results that favoured their interests.
The Bayonet Constitution's effects were immediate and far-reaching. It marked a significant shift in the distribution of power within the Hawaiian Kingdom, weakening the monarchy and empowering the legislature and cabinet. The constitution's impact on voting rights highlighted the growing influence of foreign interests and set the stage for further political developments in the kingdom.
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Frequently asked questions
The Bayonet Constitution of 1887 was a legal document drafted by anti-monarchists to reduce the power of the Hawaiian monarchy and transfer power to a coalition of American, European, and native Hawaiian people.
The Bayonet Constitution stripped the king of most of his personal authority, empowering the legislature and cabinet of the government. It also limited the voting rights of native Hawaiians while expanding those of wealthy foreigners, particularly Americans. This led to the eventual overthrow of the monarchy in 1893 and Hawaii becoming a republic and later a US territory.
The Bayonet Constitution was never ratified by the Legislative Assembly and was seen by the natives as having been illegally forced upon the nation. The 1864 Constitution remained the official constitution of the country.
