The Annexation of Hawaii as an Example of US Imperialism

In the time from 1890 to 1920 the annexation of Hawaii is surely an example of imperialism in the US. The US government creates and maintains unfair economic and political situations by introducing treaties that first enticed the Hawaiians to be friends and allies with the States and then made new treaties that made it harder for Hawaiian residents and farmers to live without the islands becoming part of the US. Plantation owners also pressured the Hawaiian king to accept a constitution that limited royal power on the islands.

US government controlled sugarcane sales from and within Hawaii to bring them “into the fold.” Congress signed a treaty to exempt Hawaii from sugarcane tariffs and when the treaty came up for renewal the US government asked for more from the islands. One such ‘perk’ for the US was exclusive rights to a naval base at Pearl Harbor. Later, Congress passed a tariff in 1890 that made it harder for Hawaiians to sell sugar than US owners. Hawaiian planters concluded that the only way to make sales increase was to join with the US as a territory.

The US government controlled the economy in Hawaii until it lead to the control of their government also. Exempting Hawaiian sugar from tariffs allowed US planters to become prominent on the islands and in turn allowed them to easily persuade the king at the time to sign a new constitution that limited his rights.

What some don’t know is that before all of this, King Kamehameha III secretly asked the United States to annex Hawaii in 1851. This offer was declined by Secretary of State Daniel Webster who said “No power ought to take possession of the islands as a conquest… or colonization.” (799). Also, when Grover Cleveland became president, he withdrew an annexation treaty that had been sent to Hawaii by President Harrison.

The Annexation of Hawaii is a great example of US imperialism with the control of their economy and slow takeover of the government supporting the idea. The US government enticed and snared Hawaii to have them become a territory through treaties and constitutions. Through this pull, the US created and maintained economic disadvantages over Hawaii.


Sources Cited

Webster, Daniel, Cohen 1982, p.799