Simone Lawson
The planters' desire for a new Hawaiian constitution stemmed from their economic and political interests in the sugar industry. The Hawaiian monarchy, under King Kalākaua, had signed a free-trade agreement with the United States in 1885, allowing tax-free sugar exports. However, by 1887, the kingdom was inundated with white landowners, missionaries, and businessmen, and the sugar industry faced competition from other countries. Planters, led by Sanford Dole and Lorrin Thurston, sought to protect their profits and maintain Hawaii's free-trade status with the US, fearing tariffs on sugar imports. They demanded a new constitution that limited the monarchy's power and favored their interests, which became known as the Bayonet Constitution. This constitution also restricted the suffrage rights of Native Hawaiians and Asian workers, ensuring the planters' control over the islands. The imposition of the Bayonet Constitution sparked a series of rebellions by Native Hawaiians, who continued to resist annexation and fight for their rights and representation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for Wanting a New Constitution | To preserve the special status of American sugar planters in Hawaii, who wanted to corner the U.S. market |
| Who Wanted a New Constitution | American sugar planters in Hawaii |
| Who Was Overthrown | Hawaiian Monarchy |
| Who Was Installed as Head of State | President of Hawaii |
| Who Controlled the Legislature | The planter elite |
| Who Was Denied Suffrage | Native Hawaiians, and large Chinese and Japanese immigrant populations |
| Who Was Given Voting Privileges | Foreign residents |
| Who Was Overthrown in the 1893 Coup d'État | Queen Lili'uokalani |
| Who Led the 1893 Coup d'État | Wealthy sugar planters and businessmen |
| Who Signed the Treaty of Annexation | President McKinley, Lorrin Thurston, Francis Hatch, and William Kinney |
| Who Opposed Annexation | Native Hawaiians, President Grover Cleveland, President Cleveland |
| Date of Annexation | July 4, 1898 |
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What You'll Learn
- The planters wanted to protect Hawaii's free-trade status with the US
- They wanted to maintain control over the Hawaiian legislature
- They wanted to preserve their economic advantage in the sugar industry
- They wanted to deny suffrage to native Hawaiians and Asian workers
- They wanted to prevent Japan from taking control of Hawaii
The planters wanted to protect Hawaii's free-trade status with the US
The planters' desire to protect Hawaii's free-trade status with the US was a significant factor in their pursuit of a new Hawaiian constitution. This desire was driven by economic interests and a recognition of the importance of the Hawaiian islands to the sugar industry.
Hawaii's sugar industry was heavily dependent on its trade relationship with the US. In 1874, Hawaii exported nearly 25 million pounds of sugar to the United States. This trade was facilitated by a free-trade agreement signed by King Kamehameha in 1810, which allowed sugar to be sold to the US market tax-free. However, in 1890, the US Congress passed the McKinley Tariff, which annulled the exclusive reciprocity arrangement between the two nations. This action undermined Hawaii's preferential access to the US market and led to a drop in sugar prices, impacting the profits of planters.
The planters feared that the loss of free-trade status and the resulting decline in sugar prices would endanger their economic interests. As a result, they sought to protect their profits and maintain the free flow of sugar between Hawaii and the US by influencing the political landscape. This involved pressuring the Hawaiian monarchy to accept a new constitution, known as the Bayonet Constitution, in 1887. The Bayonet Constitution limited the power of the monarchy and established voting restrictions that effectively gave control of the islands to the planter class.
The planters' actions were also influenced by the growing presence of foreign interests in Hawaii, particularly the Empire of Japan. There was a concern that if Hawaii did not join the United States, it might fall under Japanese control. This concern for Hawaii's future alignment added to the planters' motivation for seeking constitutional change and, ultimately, annexation by the US.
The Hawaiian monarchy, represented by Queen Lili'uokalani, resisted these efforts and attempted to restore the power of the monarchy and the rights of native Hawaiians. However, in 1893, a coup d'état led by wealthy sugar planters and supported by the US Minister to Hawaii, resulted in the overthrow of the queen and the establishment of a Provisional Government. This Provisional Government, also known as the Committee of Safety, was composed of non-native US businessmen and politicians with sugar interests. Their primary goal was to protect Hawaii's free-trade status and prevent tariffs on sugar imports, ensuring the continued profitability of their ventures.
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They wanted to maintain control over the Hawaiian legislature
The planters' desire to maintain control over the Hawaiian legislature was a significant factor in their push for a new Hawaiian constitution. This desire for control stemmed from their economic interests in the sugar industry and their aim to protect their profits.
In the 19th century, Western influence in Hawaii grew, and the sugar industry became increasingly tied to US trade. American business interests came to dominate Hawaii's sugar industry, and a powerful planter class emerged, exerting great influence over the native monarchy. This influence was evident in 1887 when a group of influential white sugar planters, led by attorneys Lorrin Thurston and Sanford B. Dole, took advantage of a spending scandal involving King Kalākaua to demand a new constitution. This new constitution, known as the Bayonet Constitution, stripped the monarchy of much of its power and reshaped voting rights in a way that benefited the planters.
The Bayonet Constitution allowed foreign residents, including the planters themselves, to vote while restricting the suffrage rights of Asian workers and those with low incomes or no property ownership. As a result, the number of Native Hawaiians who could vote decreased drastically, with only one in four remaining eligible. The planters, who called themselves the Hawaiian League, effectively controlled the islands despite being a minority.
The planters' economic interests were threatened when, in 1891, King Kalākaua died and his sister, Liliʻuokalani, ascended the throne. Queen Liliʻuokalani sought to break Hawaii's economic dependence on the United States and restore political rights to native Hawaiians. She took steps to establish a new constitution, which the planters perceived as a threat to their power and influence. In response, Thurston and an armed group, including foreigners and Hawaiian subjects, demanded that the Queen step down.
The planters' actions ultimately led to a coup d'état in 1893, with over 1,000 armed local men overthrowing the monarchy and establishing a Provisional Government of Hawaii. This government, led by the Committee of Safety, was comprised of non-native US businessmen and politicians with sugar interests. Their primary goal was to maintain Hawaii's free-trade status with the United States and protect their profits. The Committee of Safety's actions, supported by US political and military figures, resulted in the overthrow of Queen Liliʻuokalani and the imposition of the Republic of Hawaii, marking the end of the Hawaiian monarchy.
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They wanted to preserve their economic advantage in the sugar industry
The planters' desire to preserve their economic advantage in the sugar industry was a significant factor in their pursuit of a new Hawaiian constitution. The sugar industry in Hawaii was dominated by American business interests, with a powerful planter class exerting great influence over the native government. This class was primarily composed of wealthy non-native American businessmen and politicians, often referred to as the "planter elite."
The planters' economic interests were initially protected through a reciprocity agreement with the United States, which allowed them to sell sugar to the U.S. market tax-free, giving them a competitive advantage over other sugar-producing countries. However, this advantage was threatened when Congress passed the McKinley Tariff in 1890, which annulled the exclusive reciprocity arrangement and allowed competing countries to export sugar to the U.S. duty-free. This led to a dramatic drop in sugar prices and further incentivized the planters to pursue annexation to protect their economic interests.
The planters recognized the strategic importance of Hawaii's location between Asia and the U.S., which made it ideal for the sugar cane industry. They aimed to control the government and ensure the continuation of economic ties with the U.S. to maintain their dominance in the sugar market. To achieve this, they pressured the Hawaiian monarchy to pass a new constitution, known as the Bayonet Constitution, in 1887. This constitution limited the monarch's power and established property qualifications for voting, effectively concentrating political power in the hands of the land-owning planter class.
The Bayonet Constitution also restricted the suffrage rights of Native Hawaiians, Asian workers, and those with low incomes or no property, ensuring that the planters maintained control over the government. The planters' actions were met with resistance from native Hawaiians, who saw their voting rights diminished and their traditional social structures upended. There were a series of rebellions and petitions against the Bayonet Constitution and the subsequent overthrow of Queen Lili'uokalani, Hawaii's last monarch, in 1893. Despite this opposition, the planters, led by Sanford Dole and Lorrin Thurston, continued to push for annexation, which ultimately occurred in 1898.
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They wanted to deny suffrage to native Hawaiians and Asian workers
The planters' desire to deny suffrage to native Hawaiians and Asian workers was a significant factor in their pursuit of a new Hawaiian constitution. This motivation was driven by a combination of economic and political factors.
Firstly, the sugar industry played a crucial role in the Hawaiian economy, and the planters, who were predominantly non-native American businessmen and politicians, sought to protect their profits. They feared that the United States would impose tariffs on sugar imports, threatening their financial interests. Denying suffrage to native Hawaiians and Asian workers, who constituted a significant portion of the labour force in the sugar fields, was a strategy to maintain control over the industry and safeguard their economic dominance.
Secondly, the planters recognised the strategic importance of Hawaii's location between Asia and the United States. This positioning was advantageous for establishing a foothold in the Pacific and facilitating trade with Eastern markets. By limiting the voting rights of native Hawaiians and Asian workers, the planters could exert greater influence over political decisions regarding Hawaii's relationship with the United States and maintain their privileged position.
The Bayonet Constitution of 1887, imposed by a group of influential white sugar planters led by Lorrin Thurston and Sanford B. Dole, exemplified the planters' intentions. This constitution restricted the suffrage rights of Asian workers and those with low incomes or no property ownership. As a result, three out of four Native Hawaiians lost their voting rights, effectively disenfranchising them in their own country. The inequalities introduced by this revolutionary constitution sparked a series of rebellions by Native Hawaiians, who continued to resist the imposition of the Bayonet Constitution and the subsequent overthrow of their monarchy.
The planters' efforts to deny suffrage to native Hawaiians and Asian workers had far-reaching consequences, ultimately contributing to the annexation of Hawaii by the United States in 1898. Despite opposition from native Hawaiians, such as the 1897 petition against annexation, the planters' economic and political influence prevailed, leading to the end of Hawaii's monarchy and its integration into the United States as a territory.
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They wanted to prevent Japan from taking control of Hawaii
The planters' desire for a new Hawaiian constitution was driven by their intention to prevent Japan from taking control of Hawaii. The Hawaiian islands were governed as an oligarchy, with Japanese immigrants constituting a significant proportion of the workforce. Japanese immigrants faced a struggle against European American plantation owners, who subjected them to harsh working conditions and strict control over their lives. The planters aimed to maintain their power and protect their economic interests, particularly in the sugar industry, which relied on cheap labor provided by Japanese and other immigrant workers.
The planters' efforts to maintain control led to the imposition of a new constitution, known as the Bayonet Constitution, in 1887. This constitution limited the power of the Hawaiian monarchy and established property qualifications for voting, ensuring that political power remained in the hands of the land-owning planter class. The planters also influenced the legislature and pressured King David Kalakaua to pass this constitution, which aligned with their interests.
The planters' actions were driven by their fear of losing economic dominance. They wanted to protect Hawaii's free-trade status with the United States, as it was the major importer of Hawaiian agricultural products, especially sugar. The planters were concerned that the United States might establish tariffs on sugar imports, threatening their profits. By overthrowing Queen Lili'uokalani, who sought to restore Hawaiian rights and reduce economic dependence on the United States, the planters ensured their continued control over the government and the economy.
Additionally, the planters' actions were influenced by the labor dynamics in Hawaii. Japanese immigrants constituted the largest group of plantation laborers, and their presence provided cheap labor for the sugar industry. However, the planters faced challenges due to the tendency of Japanese workers to strike and demand better working conditions. The planters responded by introducing a surplus of labor, bringing in workers from other nationalities to dilute the power of Japanese laborers. They also enforced strict rules and harsh punishments, creating a rigidly stratified social hierarchy on the plantations.
The planters' efforts to prevent Japan from gaining control of Hawaii had a significant impact on the islands' governance and economy. By imposing a new constitution and maintaining their political and economic power, they shaped the future of Hawaii, ultimately leading to its annexation by the United States in 1898.
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Frequently asked questions
The Bayonet Constitution was a new constitution forced upon King Kalākaua by a group of influential white sugar planters and businessmen in 1887. It stripped the Hawaiian monarchy of most of its power, allowed foreign residents to vote, and restricted the suffrage rights of Asian workers and those with low incomes or no property.
The planters wanted to preserve the economic advantage they had gained through a reciprocity agreement with the United States, which allowed them to sell sugar to the U.S. market tax-free. To do this, they needed to ensure the monarchy continued to facilitate economic ties with the U.S. As such, they pressured the Hawaiian government to pass a new constitution that limited the monarch's power and established property qualifications for voting, thus preserving political power for the land-owning planter class.
The new constitution, known as the Bayonet Constitution, effectively gave control of the islands to the white planters, who called themselves the Hawaiian League. It also disenfranchised three out of four Native Hawaiians, who could no longer vote.
There was significant opposition to the Bayonet Constitution from Native Hawaiians, who saw it as a violation of their rights. A series of rebellions were carried out, including the Wilcox Rebellion in 1895, which was suppressed by Republic of Hawaii forces. Native Hawaiians also successfully petitioned the U.S. Congress to block an annexation treaty in 1897.
Yes, ultimately, the planters succeeded in their goals. Despite initial opposition from President Grover Cleveland, who refused to annex Hawaii, the Hawaiian islands were formally annexed by the United States in 1898, marking the end of a lengthy internal struggle between native Hawaiians and non-native American businessmen for control of the Hawaiian government.
