Isabella Carter
On June 30, 1887, King Kalākaua was forced to sign a new constitution under the threat of armed rebellion, an event that became known as the Bayonet Constitution. This new constitution was drafted by a group of lawyers and plantation owners, including Sanford Dole, who were members of the Reform Party of the Hawaiian Kingdom and wanted to end the kingdom and annex it to the United States. The Bayonet Constitution stripped the king of his personal authority, empowering the legislature and cabinet of the government, and significantly changed voting requirements, disenfranchising two-thirds of the native Hawaiian population. King Kalākaua's sister and heir, Lili‘uokalani, later asserted that he had signed the constitution under the threat of assassination.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| King Kalākaua's life was threatened | King Kalākaua would be deposed if he refused to sign the constitution |
| Threat of force | Armed militia |
| Goal of the new constitution | Annexation of Hawai'i by the United States |
| Loss of authority | Stripped of personal authority and legislative authority |
| Loss of power | Power transferred to the cabinet |
| Loss of land rights | Native Hawaiian land rights taken away |
| Loss of voting rights | Over two-thirds of Native Hawaiians lost their voting rights |
| Voting eligibility | Voter eligibility tied to English literacy and proficiency standards and holding property that aligns with taxable property standards |
| Voting requirements | Income of $600 or taxable property of $3000 to vote for the upper house |
| Control over the Kingdom | Complete control over the Hawaiian Kingdom seized by the Hawaiian League |
| Monarchy's decline | Placed considerable limitations on the king's power |
| Ratification | Never ratified in the Hawaiian Kingdom's legislature |
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What You'll Learn
- Kalākaua was threatened with assassination if he refused to sign the Bayonet Constitution
- An armed militia, the Honolulu Rifles, supported the anti-monarchists
- The constitution stripped the king of personal authority, empowering the legislature and cabinet
- It limited the monarchy's spending, which was a problem under Kalākaua's reign
- The constitution removed the monarch's power to appoint members of the House of Nobles
Kalākaua was threatened with assassination if he refused to sign the Bayonet Constitution
On June 30, 1887, King Kalākaua of Hawaii was forced to sign a new constitution that stripped him and the monarchy of their powers, transferring them to a coalition of American, European, and native Hawaiian people. This document became known as the Bayonet Constitution due to the armed militia that threatened the use of force to gain Kalākaua's compliance.
The Hawaiian League, a group of non-Hawaiian merchants and businessmen, aimed to protect their economic interests and seize control of the kingdom. They drafted the constitution with the help of American lawyers and plantation owners, including Sanford Dole, who was related to the leader of the Honolulu Rifles, the armed militia that supported the Hawaiian League. The constitution excluded two-thirds of the native Hawaiian population from voting by setting high property and income requirements. It also removed the monarch's power to appoint members of the House of Nobles, giving that power to wealthy landowners instead.
King Kalākaua was indeed threatened with assassination if he refused to sign the Bayonet Constitution. His sister and heir-apparent, Liliʻuokalani, later discovered that her brother had signed the document because he believed that there were measures in place to have him assassinated if he did not comply. Charles Gulick, the Minister of the Interior from 1883 to 1886, confirmed this, stating that the conspirators wanted an excuse to depose and assassinate the king, and his signature disconcerted them.
The Bayonet Constitution was never ratified by the Legislative Assembly, and it marked the beginning of the insurgency and the decline of the monarchy in Hawaii.
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An armed militia, the Honolulu Rifles, supported the anti-monarchists
The Honolulu Rifles were a paramilitary force loyal to the Missionary Party and the Reform Party. They were created in 1854 as a militia to deal with internal conflict. In 1873, 24 Honolulu Rifles were deployed during the Barracks Revolt. In 1887, they secretly allied with the Missionary Party and became the armed militia that forced King Kalākaua to sign the Bayonet Constitution at gunpoint.
The Bayonet Constitution was a legal document drafted 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 constitution also removed the monarch's power to appoint members of the House of Nobles, the upper house of the legislature, and gave that power to wealthy landowners. Additionally, it required high income or property values to vote for or serve in the upper house, effectively disenfranchising two-thirds of the Hawaiian population, particularly Native Hawaiians.
The Honolulu Rifles, as the military arm of the Hawaiian League, played a significant role in supporting the anti-monarchists and ensuring the adoption of the Bayonet Constitution. They were present at a meeting on June 30, 1887, where they joined politicians from the Reform Party in demanding the dismissal of King Kalākaua's Cabinet, which supported the king's authority. The show of force by the Honolulu Rifles left the king with little choice but to comply with their demands.
The Rifles continued to grow in prominence and influence after the adoption of the Bayonet Constitution. They hosted an exhibition and dance in 1887, attended by most of the political figures of the day, including the king himself, who presented them with the flag of the Kingdom. They filled the role of protecting the legislature and defended the constitution in the Wilcox rebellion. The Honolulu Rifles were eventually disbanded on August 23, 1890, and later became a part of the Hawaiian League's Committee of Safety.
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The constitution stripped the king of personal authority, empowering the legislature and cabinet
The 1887 Constitution of the Hawaiian Kingdom, also known as the Bayonet Constitution, significantly diminished the authority of the Hawaiian monarchy, particularly that of King Kalākaua. This document was drafted by a group of lawyers and plantation owners, many of whom were associated with the Hawaiian League, an organisation that sought the end of the kingdom and its annexation to the United States.
The Bayonet Constitution stripped King Kalākaua of his personal authority, transferring power to the legislature and cabinet of the government. Specifically, it removed the monarch's power to appoint members of the House of Nobles, the upper house of the legislature. Instead, this body was now to be elected by wealthy landowners, and its membership was expanded to 40 individuals serving six-year terms. The qualifications to serve in this body were also changed, with new income and property requirements that effectively prevented most native Hawaiians from serving. The constitution also required the king to appoint a Minister of Finance to oversee government spending and submit annual budget proposals to the legislature, addressing concerns about profligate spending under Kalākaua's reign.
The voting requirements were also altered, disproportionately benefiting white male residents, particularly those in the sugar industry. The new constitution required an income of $600 (equivalent to US$20,998 in 2024) or taxable property of US$3000 (equivalent to $104,989 in 2024) to vote for or serve in the upper house. This disenfranchised approximately two-thirds of the Hawaiian population, primarily native Hawaiians, while granting voting rights to foreign resident aliens. The Hawaiian League swiftly seized control of the Hawaiian government, appointing their members to the cabinet and securing the disenfranchisement of their opposition.
The Bayonet Constitution was imposed on King Kalākaua under the threat of force, with an armed militia demanding he sign it or face deposition. While the exact nature of the threats may be disputed, it is clear that the king was coerced into accepting a document that significantly curtailed his power and facilitated the rise of a coalition of American, European, and native Hawaiian individuals seeking to reshape the kingdom.
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It limited the monarchy's spending, which was a problem under Kalākaua's reign
The 1887 Constitution of the Hawaiian Kingdom, also known as the Bayonet Constitution, was a legal document drafted by a group of lawyers, including Thurston, Dole, William Ansel Kinney, William Owen Smith, George Norton Wilcox, and Edward Griffin Hitchcock. All the lawyers were associated with the Hawaiian League, a group of largely white businessmen with the purpose of annexing Hawaii and protecting the economic interests of white foreigners. The Bayonet Constitution was prepared by anti-monarchists to strip the absolute Hawaiian monarchy of its authority and transfer power to a coalition of Americans, Europeans, and native Hawaiians.
The constitution also removed the monarch's power to appoint members of the House of Nobles, making it a body elected by wealthy landowners. It enlarged the body to 40 members and introduced high property and income requirements to serve as a noble or representative. These requirements stripped almost all native Hawaiians of the ability to serve in the legislature.
The 1887 Constitution made significant changes to voting requirements, limiting suffrage to those with an annual income of $600 (equivalent to US$20998 in 2024) or taxable property of US$3000 (equivalent to $104989 in 2024). This excluded approximately two-thirds of the Hawaiian population, disproportionately affecting native Hawaiians. The Bayonet Constitution gave suffrage to white non-citizen landowners who met the income and landownership requirements, while barring Asians from voting.
The constitution also addressed the issue of profligate spending under King Kalākaua's reign, particularly regarding the costly construction and maintenance of Iolani Palace. It stipulated that the King was required to appoint a Minister of Finance to oversee government spending and submit an annual budget proposal to the legislature. This measure limited the monarchy's spending, which had been a concern during Kalākaua's rule.
The Bayonet Constitution was signed by King Kalākaua under duress, with the armed militia of the Honolulu Rifles threatening to depose him if he refused. The King's sister and heir-apparent, Lili‘uokalani, later affirmed that her brother's life was threatened and that he signed the constitution under "absolute compulsion." The constitution was never ratified by the Legislative Assembly and was considered the first significant step in the decline of the monarchy in Hawaii.
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The constitution removed the monarch's power to appoint members of the House of Nobles
The 1887 Constitution of the Hawaiian Kingdom, also known as the Bayonet Constitution, was a legal document drafted by a group of American lawyers and plantation owners, including Sanford Dole, who were anti-monarchists. They explicitly wanted to end the kingdom and annex Hawaii to the United States. This new constitution stripped King Kalākaua of much of his authority, transferring power to a coalition of American, European, and native Hawaiian people.
One of the significant changes brought about by the Bayonet Constitution was the removal of the monarch's power to appoint members of the House of Nobles, the upper house of the legislature. Instead, the House of Nobles became a body elected by wealthy landowners to six-year terms, with its membership enlarged to 40 members. The qualifications to serve in the House now included high property and income requirements, effectively disenfranchising the native Hawaiian population and ensuring that only a small proportion of them could meet the new requirements.
The Bayonet Constitution was never ratified by the Legislative Assembly, and it represented a significant shift in power away from the monarch. The constitution also addressed concerns about profligate spending under Kalākaua's reign, requiring the king to appoint a Minister of Finance to oversee government expenditures and submit annual budget proposals to the legislature. Additionally, it made changes to voting requirements, with voters needing an income of $600 or taxable property worth $3000, which disproportionately favoured white male residents in the sugar industry.
The Hawaiian League, a group of non-Hawaiian merchants and businessmen, played a pivotal role in seizing control of the kingdom and forcing King Kalākaua to sign the treaty under duress. They aimed to protect their economic interests and consolidate their power. The Bayonet Constitution was the first significant step in the decline of the monarchy, and while it did not depose the king, it severely limited his authority.
The monarch's power to appoint members of the House of Nobles was a prerogative traditionally held by rulers in constitutional monarchies. While the extent of a monarch's power varies across different countries, they typically have the authority to appoint ministers or other important officials and play a role in approving laws and treaties. However, in constitutional monarchies, the monarch's powers are limited and must be exercised within a legal framework established by the constitution.
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Frequently asked questions
King Kalākaua signed the Bayonet Constitution under duress, as he was threatened with armed rebellion and assassination if he refused.
The Bayonet Constitution was a legal document drafted by anti-monarchists to strip the absolute Hawaiian monarchy of its authority. It was signed by King Kalākaua on June 30, 1887.
The Bayonet Constitution had far-reaching consequences, including the transfer of power from the monarchy to a coalition of American, European, and native Hawaiian people. It also resulted in the disenfranchisement of Native Hawaiians, as they were disproportionately excluded from voting due to high property and income requirements.
The Bayonet Constitution was drafted by a group of lawyers associated with the Hawaiian League, including Thurston, Dole, William Ansel Kinney, William Owen Smith, George Norton Wilcox, and Edward Griffin Hitchcock.
No, the Bayonet Constitution was never ratified by the Hawaiian Kingdom's legislature, so it was never officially a constitution.
