Hawaiian rebellions (1887–1895) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hawaiian rebellions |
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.jpg) The ship's landing force on duty at the Arlington Hotel, Honolulu, at the time of the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy, January 1893. Lieutenant Lucien Young, USN, commanded the detachment, and is presumably the officer at right. |
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| Belligerents | ||||||||
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Royalists  United Kingdom |
Annexationists  United States |
(Other) |
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| Commanders and leaders | ||||||||
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 Tōgō Heihachirō |
 John L. Stevens |
 Charles B. Wilson |
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| Strength | ||||||||
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Hawaii |
1500 (peak) | ~300 (peak) | ||||||
| During the course of the rebellions, commanders and combatants changed their allegiances. | ||||||||
The Hawaiian rebellions and revolutions were a series of important events that happened in Hawaii between 1887 and 1895. During this time, Hawaii was an independent country, recognized by powerful nations like the United States and the United Kingdom. However, there were many challenges to the Hawaiian government, leading to big changes in the country's history.
Contents
The 1887 Rebellion and the Bayonet Constitution
In 1887, a group of important officials and advisers to King Kalākaua, along with an armed group, forced the king to accept a new set of laws. This new constitution became known as the "Bayonet Constitution". It was given this name because it was forced upon the king.
People who supported this new constitution, often called the Reform Party, were unhappy with the Kingdom's growing debt and the king's spending. The new constitution took away much of the king's power. It also made it harder for many people to vote, especially Asians. Only wealthy Europeans, Americans, and some native Hawaiians kept full voting rights.
When King Kalākaua passed away in 1891, his sister, Liliʻuokalani, became the new Queen.
Many native Hawaiians felt that King Kalākaua's rule was a "golden age" for Hawaii. They believed the new constitution was forced by a small group of foreigners. They also disliked the idea of the U.S. Navy having a permanent base at Pearl Harbor. The King had wanted an alliance with Japan and supported other countries dealing with colonialism.
At the time of the Bayonet Constitution, Grover Cleveland was the U.S. President. His Secretary of State, Thomas F. Bayard, told the American minister in Hawaii, George W. Merrill, to protect American businesses, lives, and property if there was another revolution. Merrill was told to use U.S. Navy officers if needed to keep order. In 1889, when a small rebellion happened, Minister Merrill landed Marines to protect Americans, and his actions were approved. John L. Stevens, who replaced Merrill, followed these instructions later in 1893.
The 1889 Rebellion
In 1889, a rebellion led by native Hawaiians, including Colonel Robert Wilcox and Robert Boyd, tried to get rid of the Bayonet Constitution. They even stormed 'Iolani Palace. However, this rebellion was stopped. The United States sent Marines to protect American interests, and this action was officially supported by the U.S. government.
The 1893 Overthrow of the Monarchy
When Queen Liliʻuokalani became queen, many of her people asked her to create a new constitution. They wanted to give the monarchy back its power and take away the voting rights that Americans and Europeans had gained in 1887. The Queen believed her people and her cabinet supported her, so she began to write a new constitution.
In response to the Queen's plan, a group of European and American residents formed a "Committee of Safety" on January 14, 1893. This group was against the Queen and her plans. After a large meeting, the Committee decided to remove the Queen from power and try to make Hawaii part of the United States.
The U.S. Minister, John L. Stevens, followed the policy of protecting American interests during a revolution. He called for U.S. Marines from the U.S.S. Boston and U.S. sailors to come ashore on January 16, 1893. They took positions at American buildings in Honolulu. The Committee of Safety had asked for this help, saying American lives and property were in danger. The Hawaiian military and police did not try to stop the revolution or protect the Queen.
A temporary government was set up with strong support from the Honolulu Rifles, a local militia group. Under this pressure, Queen Liliʻuokalani gave up her throne to the Committee of Safety. On January 17, 1893, she wrote a statement protesting what happened. She said she was giving up her authority because of the "superior force of the United States of America." She hoped the U.S. government would fix the situation and put her back in power.
Even though some said the overthrow was "bloodless," the Queen's own book mentions that some people died because of the actions of the revolutionaries.
U.S. President Grover Cleveland ordered an investigation into the overthrow. This investigation, called the Blount Report, was finished on July 17, 1893. It found that U.S. officials and military had misused their power and were responsible for the change in government.
Minister Stevens was removed from his job, and the military commander in Hawaii had to resign. President Cleveland said that a "substantial wrong" had been done and that the U.S. should try to fix it. He wanted to restore the monarchy. However, after President Sanford Dole of the new Provisional Government refused to reinstate the Queen, President Cleveland sent the matter to Congress.
Another report, the Morgan Report, was submitted on February 26, 1894. This report disagreed with the Blount Report. It found Stevens and the U.S. troops "not guilty" of being involved in the overthrow. After this report, President Cleveland stopped trying to put the Queen back in power. He began normal diplomatic relations with the new Provisional Government and later, the Republic of Hawaii.
The Republic of Hawaii was officially created on July 4, 1894, with Sanford Dole as its president.
The 1895 Rebellion
In 1895, another rebellion tried to overthrow the Republic of Hawaii and bring back the monarchy. This effort was led by Colonel Samuel Nowlein, Minister Joseph Nawahi, and members of the Royal Household Guards, and later Robert Wilcox. This rebellion failed.
After the rebellion was crushed, former Queen Liliʻuokalani was found guilty and imprisoned. The exiled royal government was also dissolved. Some historians say that Chinese and Japanese immigrants helped fund this rebellion because they felt loyal to Queen Liliʻuokalani.
