Opposition to the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii

Opposition to the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii took several forms. Following the overthrow of the monarchy on January 17, 1893, Hawaii's provisional government—under the leadership of Sanford B. Dole—attempted to annex the land to the United States under Republican Benjamin Harrison's administration. But the treaty of annexation came up for approval under the administration of Grover Cleveland, a Democrat, anti-expansionist, and friend of the deposed Queen Liliuokalani of Hawaii. Cleveland retracted the treaty on March 4, 1893, and launched an investigation headed by James Henderson Blount; its report is known as the Blount Report.

The overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom was a result of progressive governmental control by foreigners who were coming in increasing numbers to the island of Hawaii. Many of these foreigners bought up Hawaiian land and invested in the lucrative Hawaiian sugar industry. In 1887, these men forced the then reigning king, Kalākaua, to sign the so-called Bayonet Constitution, which stripped him of much of his power, in turn creating a constitutional monarchy. In 1890, the United States signed the McKinley Tariff into law; the new law sharply raised tariffs, ending the Hawaiian sugar industry's dominance in the North American market and pushing Hawaii into turmoil.

Following the sugar crash, in 1893 the reigning Queen Lili'uokalani proposed a new constitution to replace the 1887 one. If signed, the new constitution would revoke many of the foreigners' powers, and put the queen back in control of the Kingdom. The proposal was backed by the majority of the native population; however, it was naturally opposed by the Americans and foreigners on the island, who hoping for American intervention, began planning a coup. Anti-monarchists coalesce forming the Committee of Safety while the queen and royalist leaders formed the Committee of Law and Order in support of the queen and the government. The situation soon escalated as both royalists and secessionists armed themselves. Fearing for American safety, the United States called on the USS Boston to land a small force of Marines to protect American interests. Although the Americans were sworn to neutrality and never fired a shot, they did intimidate the royalist defenders, and Queen Lili'uokalani, fearing bloodshed, conceded surrender.

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