Annexation of Hawaii
The Kingdom of Hawai'i was long an independent monarchy in the mid-Pacific Ocean. During the 19th century, the first American missionaries and then business interests began to play major roles in the islands. Most notable were the powerful fruit and sugarcane corporations such as the Big Five, which included Castle & Cooke, Alexander & Baldwin, C. Brewer & Co., Amfac and Theo H. Davies & Co..
The Big Five engineered, financed and directed military coup, deposing and imprisoning the monarchy's last native Hawaiian leader, Queen Lili'uokalani in 1894. Although censured by the U.S. president and Congress, the Big Five maintained control until 1898, when president of the Republic of Hawai'i, Sanford Dole, was finally offered and agreed to annexation by the United States. The republic was dissolved in 1900 when the country became a territory of the US. Following voter approval of the Admission of Hawai'i Act, the Territory of Hawaii, on August 21, 1959, became the state of Hawai'i and the 50th state of the United States.
2007-09-30
18:30:41
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