Hawaii Admission Act facts for kids
.svg) |
|
| Long title | An Act to provide for the admission of the State of Hawaii into the Union. |
|---|---|
| Nicknames | Hawaii Statehood |
| Enacted by | the 86th United States Congress |
| Effective | March 18, 1959 |
| Citations | |
| Public law | 86-3 |
| Statutes at Large | 73 Stat. 4 |
| Legislative history | |
|
|
The Hawaii Admission Act is a special law passed by the United States Congress. It was signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on March 18, 1959. This law changed the Territory of Hawaii into the State of Hawaii.
Hawaii officially became the 50th state to join the United States on August 21, 1959. It is the most recent state to become part of the United States.
Contents
Hawaii's Journey to Statehood
Before 1959, Hawaii was known as an "organized incorporated territory" of the United States. This means it was a part of the U.S. but did not have the same rights as a state. The territory was created in 1900 by a law called the Hawaiian Organic Act.
In 1946, the United Nations listed Hawaii as a "non-self-governing territory." This meant the UN saw Hawaii as a place that was ruled by another country (the United States) but should eventually be able to govern itself. Other places like Alaska, American Samoa, and Puerto Rico were also on this list.
Voting for Statehood
When it was time to vote on becoming a state, many people in Hawaii participated. Out of about 155,000 registered voters, 140,000 people cast their votes. This was a very high number for Hawaii at the time.
The results showed that most people wanted statehood. At least 93% of voters on all the main islands approved the Admission Act. Fewer than 8,000 people voted against it.
Why Some People Opposed Statehood
Even though most people wanted Hawaii to become a state, some did not. There were Native Hawaiians who protested against it. For many years, bills to make Hawaii a state were stopped in Congress.
Some lawmakers in Washington worried about Hawaii becoming a state because of its large Asian American population. They were concerned about a state being governed by an ethnic minority. There were also worries about people's loyalty.
John A. Burns, who represented Hawaii in Congress, worked hard to convince others. He said that the real reasons for stopping statehood were often hidden. He believed that much of the opposition came from within Hawaii itself.
Southern Lawmakers' Concerns
Some lawmakers from the southern U.S. were against Hawaii becoming a state. They had concerns about the diverse population of Hawaii. Elizabeth P. Farrington, another representative from Hawaii, said that Senator Lyndon Johnson often voted against statehood. She believed he was representing the views of southern lawmakers who had concerns about race.
Alice Kamokila Campbell's View
One strong voice against statehood was Territorial Senator Alice Kamokila Campbell. On January 17, 1946, she spoke to a special committee. She said that Hawaii should not give up its traditional rights for just a few votes in Congress.
She believed that some powerful people wanted Hawaii to become a state for their own financial and political gain. She felt they were not truly friends of Hawaii. In 1947, she even opened an "Anti-Statehood Clearing House" to share information against statehood. She also successfully sued the Hawaii Statehood Commission to stop them from using public money to push for statehood.
How the State Was Formed
The Hawaii Admission Act clearly described what would be included in the new State of Hawaii. It said the state would include all the islands, reefs, and waters that were part of the Territory of Hawaii.
However, some islands were specifically left out. These included Palmyra Island, the Midway Islands, Johnston Island, Sand Island (near Johnston Island), and Kingman Reef. These places remained under U.S. control but were not part of the new state.
