Isabella Carter
Queen Liliuokalani was the first female ruler of Hawaii, ascending to the throne in 1891 after the death of her brother, King Kalākaua. Her reign was marked by political turmoil, as she sought to overturn the Bayonet Constitution, which had been forced upon her brother by a group of primarily white business owners and severely limited the power of the monarchy. In 1893, she attempted to adopt a new constitution that would restore power to the monarchy and expand voting rights to disenfranchised native Hawaiians and Asians. This move was opposed by her ministers and led to her overthrow by a group of pro-American elites, who established a Provisional Government with the support of US military forces. She was forced to abdicate in 1895 and spent eight months in prison before being released and pardoned. She continued to advocate against the annexation of Hawaii by the United States until her death in 1917.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for opposing the new constitution | The new constitution limited the power of the monarchy and severely restricted voting rights for native Hawaiians |
| Queen Liliuokalani's proposed constitution | Would restore power to the monarchy and voting rights to economically disenfranchised native Hawaiians and Asians |
| Result of the new constitution | Led to a coup d'état and the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- The Bayonet Constitution, forced upon King Kalākaua, limited the monarchy's power
- Queen Liliuokalani's new constitution aimed to restore power to the monarchy
- The new constitution would have extended voting rights to economically disenfranchised native Hawaiians and Asians
- The queen was deposed by a coup d'état backed by the US military
- The queen was placed under house arrest and charged with treason
The Bayonet Constitution, forced upon King Kalākaua, limited the monarchy's power
In 1887, an elite class of business owners (mainly white) forced King Kalākaua to sign a new constitution, which became known as the Bayonet Constitution. This new constitution limited the power of the monarchy in Hawaii and severely restricted voting rights for native Hawaiians. Queen Liliuokalani, who was crown princess at the time, opposed this constitution as it had been forced upon her brother, the king, and she believed it was important to restore the monarchy's power.
Liliuokalani became the first queen of Hawaii in 1891 after King Kalākaua died. She immediately set about trying to reverse the Bayonet Constitution, announcing plans to change the constitution to give power back to the Hawaiian government and people. She wanted to restore the monarchy's power and give voting rights to economically disenfranchised native Hawaiians and Asians. However, her plans were not supported by her Cabinet, and she lost the support of foreign businessmen.
On January 14, 1893, Queen Liliuokalani informed her Cabinet that she intended to propose a new constitution. The Annexation Club, a secret group formed by leading politician, lawyer, businessman, and native-born citizen of the Kingdom, Lorrin A. Thurston, learned of her plans and formed the Committee of Safety from among its members. They gained the support of the US government minister John L. Stevens and Captain G. C. Wiltse of the USS Boston, a fully armed US warship anchored in Honolulu Harbor.
On January 16, 162 US sailors and marines landed in Honolulu. The next day, the Committee of Safety issued a proclamation declaring martial law, deposing the queen, and establishing the Provisional Government until such time as union with the US could be attained. The Kingdom of Hawaii was overthrown, and a US-military backed coup deposed Queen Liliuokalani, who was placed under house arrest and charged with treason. She was forced to abdicate the throne on January 24, 1895, and the Republic of Hawaii was established in 1894. The ultimate goal was the annexation of the islands to the United States, which was achieved in 1898.
America's Pre-Constitution War Declarations
You may want to see also
Queen Liliuokalani's new constitution aimed to restore power to the monarchy
Queen Liliuokalani's proposed new constitution aimed to restore power to the monarchy and voting rights to economically disenfranchised native Hawaiians and Asians. The previous Bayonet Constitution, signed by her brother, King Kalākaua, had reduced the monarchy's authority and voting rights for native Hawaiians. Queen Liliuokalani's efforts to reverse this were met with opposition from pro-American elements, who overthrew the monarchy on January 17, 1893, with the support of US military forces.
Queen Liliuokalani's new constitution was intended to restore power to the monarchy and reduce the influence of the elite class of businessmen and wealthy landowners, many of whom were American. The Bayonet Constitution had given these groups significant power, and Queen Liliuokalani aimed to return authority to the Hawaiian government and people.
The proposed new constitution was co-written by Queen Liliuokalani and two legislators, Joseph Nāwahī and William Pūnohu White. It faced opposition from the queen's ministers and closest friends, who tried to dissuade her from pursuing it. Despite this, Queen Liliuokalani moved forward with her plans, announcing them on January 14, 1893.
The queen's efforts to restore power to the monarchy were not supported by her Cabinet, and word of her intentions spread to the Annexation Club, a group that sought to act against any attempts to propose a more lenient constitution. They formed the Committee of Safety, which included leading Reform Party politicians, and conspired to depose the queen.
On January 16, 1893, 162 US sailors and marines landed in Honolulu, and the following day, the Committee of Safety proclaimed martial law, deposed Queen Liliuokalani, and established the Provisional Government. The monarchy was unable to protect itself, and Queen Liliuokalani was forced to yield to superior American forces.
Despite her initial resistance, Queen Liliuokalani was placed under house arrest and charged with treason. She was forced to abdicate the throne on January 24, 1895, and the Republic of Hawaii was declared in 1894. The queen continued to seek reinstatement and oppose annexation, but Hawaii was annexed by the United States in 1898.
Texas Constitution: Offices Created and Their Roles
You may want to see also
The new constitution would have extended voting rights to economically disenfranchised native Hawaiians and Asians
Queen Liliuokalani was the first queen of Hawaii, taking the throne in 1891. She inherited a kingdom in which the monarchy's powers had been severely limited by the so-called "Bayonet Constitution", which had been forced upon her brother, King Kalākaua, by an elite class of businessmen and landowners (many of them American) in 1887. This document also restricted voting rights for native Hawaiians.
Queen Liliuokalani was determined to reverse the Bayonet Constitution. On January 14, 1893, she announced plans to change the constitution to give power back to the monarchy and the Hawaiian people, including restoring voting rights to economically disenfranchised native Hawaiians and Asians. She wrote:
> "Petitions poured in from every part of the Islands for a new constitution; these were addressed to myself as the reigning sovereign. They were supported by petitions addressed to the Hui Kalaiaina, who in turn endorsed and forwarded them to me. It was estimated by those in position to know, that out of a possible nine thousand five hundred registered voters, six thousand five hundred, or two-thirds, had signed these petitions. To have ignored or disregarded so general a request I must have been deaf to the voice of the people, which tradition tells us is the voice of God."
The queen's proposed constitution was co-written by herself and two legislators, Joseph Nāwahī and William Pūnohu White. However, her ministers and closest friends were all opposed to this plan and tried unsuccessfully to dissuade her. The political fallout led to citywide political rallies and meetings in Honolulu. Anti-monarchists, annexationists, and leading Reform Party politicians formed the Committee of Safety in protest of the queen's "revolutionary" action and conspired to depose her.
On January 17, 1893, Queen Liliuokalani was deposed from the throne of the Hawaiian Kingdom. A group of 13 Caucasian businessmen and lawyers staged a coup d'état, bolstered by the landing of US Marines under John L. Stevens to protect American interests. The coup d'état established a Provisional Government, which became the Republic of Hawaiʻi, but the ultimate goal was the annexation of the islands to the United States.
Senatorial Terms: Constitutional Definition and Details
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The queen was deposed by a coup d'état backed by the US military
Queen Liliuokalani was deposed by a coup d'état backed by the US military. On January 17, 1893, a group of 13 white businessmen and lawyers, along with the landing of US Marines, overthrew the monarchy. The coup was led by Lorrin A. Thurston, a leading politician, lawyer, businessman, and native-born citizen of the Kingdom. He had also authored the Bayonet Constitution, which the Queen opposed as it limited the power of the monarchy and the voting rights of native Hawaiians.
The plan to overthrow the monarchy had been in the works for decades, with the formation of the Annexation Club in 1892, which later became the Committee of Safety. They gained the support of the US Government Minister John L. Stevens and Captain G. C. Wiltse of the USS Boston, a fully armed US warship anchored in Honolulu Harbor. The Queen's cabinet refused to support her, and on January 16, 1893, 162 US sailors and marines landed in Honolulu.
The next day, on January 17, the Committee of Safety issued a proclamation declaring martial law, deposing the Queen, and establishing the Provisional Government. The Queen was advised by her ministers to surrender to avoid bloodshed, and she yielded to the superior force of the United States. She wrote a protest that was published in the Hawaiian language newspaper, "Hawaii Holomua," stating that she was impelled to yield her authority due to the force presented by the United States.
The overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani was deemed illegal, and it was concluded that Stevens and American military troops had acted inappropriately in support of those who carried out the coup. The Queen was placed under house arrest and charged with treason, and she ultimately agreed to sign a formal abdication on January 24, 1895, to secure the pardon of her supporters. She continued to seek reinstatement and oppose annexation, but Hawaii was annexed by the United States in 1898.
Understanding Life Events: Financial Aid Eligibility
You may want to see also
The queen was placed under house arrest and charged with treason
Queen Liliuokalani was placed under house arrest and charged with treason in the wake of an unsuccessful uprising to restore her to the Hawaiian throne. The insurrection was led by loyalist Robert Wilcox, and the queen was forced to abdicate on 24 January 1895 under threat of execution for her supporters.
The treason charges against Liliuokalani were based on allegations of her involvement in the attempted uprising. She was tried in her former throne room at Iolani Palace and found guilty of having knowledge of treason and failing to report it. However, she denied any knowledge of the plot. She was sentenced to five years in prison, serving her sentence in an upstairs room at the Palace.
Liliuokalani was released and granted a full pardon in 1896. She then travelled to Washington, D.C., where she spent the rest of that year and half of 1897 lobbying against the annexation of Hawaii by the United States. Her efforts included writing and publishing a memoir, "Hawaii's Story by Hawaii's Queen", in 1898.
The queen's opposition to the Bayonet Constitution, which limited the power of the monarchy, had led to her overthrow in 1893. She had proposed a new constitution that would restore power to the monarchy and voting rights to economically disenfranchised native Hawaiians and Asians. This proposal was opposed by anti-monarchists, annexationists, and leading Reform Party politicians, who conspired to depose her.
The coup d'état was supported by US military forces under John L. Stevens, who landed in Hawaii to protect American interests. This rendered the monarchy unable to protect itself, and a provisional government was established, declaring Hawaii a republic in 1894. Despite her abdication and the official annexation of Hawaii in 1898, Liliuokalani continued to oppose annexation and advocate for the restoration of the Hawaiian monarchy.
A Constitution: Foundation for a Fair and Just Society
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Queen Liliuokalani wanted to implement a new constitution to restore the powers of the monarchy, which had been taken away by the Bayonet Constitution in 1887. The Bayonet Constitution had limited the power of the monarchy and severely restricted the voting rights of native Hawaiians.
The Bayonet Constitution had been forced upon King Kalākaua by an elite class of businessmen and landowners, many of them American. It limited the power of the monarchy and took away voting rights from native Hawaiians and Asians. The new constitution proposed by Queen Liliuokalani aimed to restore power to the monarchy and expand voting rights to economically disenfranchised native Hawaiians and Asians.
Queen Liliuokalani's ministers and friends opposed her new constitution because they feared it would be too lenient and reduce the power of the elite class. They also wanted to maintain the restrictions on voting rights for native Hawaiians and Asians.
