Download Imperialism Political Cartoons

Imperialism Political Cartoons
The United States was the biggest market for Hawaii's
sugar. The transplanted planters longed for Hawaii to
become part of the United States so they wouldn't have
to worry about tariffs. The U.S. minister to Hawaii, John
L. Stevens, was anxious to annex the islands as well.
Sensing this, Queen Liliuokalani was on the verge of
imposing a new Constitution shifting power back to the
monarchy - but she never got the chance.
On Jan. 16, 1893, U.S. Marines landed in Honolulu
armed with Howitzer cannons and carbines. A group
of 18 men - mostly American sugar farmers - staged a
coup, proclaiming themselves the "provisional
government" of Hawaii. Stevens gave immediate
recognition to them as Hawaii's true government.
President Grover Cleveland investigated the coup and fired
Stevens. He apologized to the queen. And on Dec. 18, 1893, he
briefed Congress on his findings:
"By an act of war, committed with the participation of a diplomatic
representative of the United States and without authority of
Congress, the government of a feeble but friendly and confiding
people has been overthrown," Cleveland said. "A substantial wrong
has thus been done, which a due regard for our national character,
as well as the rights of the injured people, requires we should
endeavor to repair."
Cleveland refused to approve the annexation of Hawaii. Soon,
however, he was out of office, and President William McKinley
gave it his blessing.