American History
Hawaiʻi
The first Europeans arrived in Hawaiʻi in 1778 with Captain James Cook. In the 19th century, missionaries and traders arrived from Europe and the United States. They often disagreed with the way Hawaiʻi was run by the Hawaiian monarchy. They wanted a British-style constitutional monarchy where the monarch held little power.
In 1874, David Kalakaua became king. He wanted to reduce the power of the white Missionary Party in the government. In 1887 a small group of Missionary Party members, known as the Hawaiian League, struck back against the king.
They drafted a new constitution that reduced the power of the king and increased the power of the cabinet. It also made it very difficult for native Hawaiians to vote. Backed by a militia, the group forced King Kalakaua to sign the constitution. It became known as the Bayonet Constitution.
King Kalakaua died in 1891. When his sister, Liliuokalani, came to power she proposed a new constitution that would restore the powers of the monarchy and give voting rights to the native Hawaiians. The queen’s actions angered many of Hawai'i’s white businessmen. They decided to stage a coup. The queen surrendered to avoid violence. In 1895 the queen agreed to formally abdicate and dissolve the monarchy. In 1898, the United States annexed Hawaiʻi. Hawaiʻi was administered as a U.S. territory until 1959, when it became the 50th state.
In 1874, David Kalakaua became king. He wanted to reduce the power of the white Missionary Party in the government. In 1887 a small group of Missionary Party members, known as the Hawaiian League, struck back against the king.
They drafted a new constitution that reduced the power of the king and increased the power of the cabinet. It also made it very difficult for native Hawaiians to vote. Backed by a militia, the group forced King Kalakaua to sign the constitution. It became known as the Bayonet Constitution.
King Kalakaua died in 1891. When his sister, Liliuokalani, came to power she proposed a new constitution that would restore the powers of the monarchy and give voting rights to the native Hawaiians. The queen’s actions angered many of Hawai'i’s white businessmen. They decided to stage a coup. The queen surrendered to avoid violence. In 1895 the queen agreed to formally abdicate and dissolve the monarchy. In 1898, the United States annexed Hawaiʻi. Hawaiʻi was administered as a U.S. territory until 1959, when it became the 50th state.
Harbours were built to trade with Asian countries. In 1941 Hawaiʻi was targeted by the Japanese military. They made a surprise attack on Pearl Harbour on the morning of the 7th of December, 1941. The attack took everyone by surprise because Japan had not declared war on the United States before they attacked.
Thousands were killed in the surprise attack. One of the ships destroyed was the USS Arizona. The USS Arizona Memorial was later built over the sunken wreckage of the USS Arizona, the final resting place for many of the crewmen killed on the day. |