Proposed 1893 Constitution of the Hawaiian Kingdom facts for kids

Queen Liliuokalani wrote the draft 1893 constitution.

The proposed 1893 Constitution of the Hawaiian Kingdom was a new set of rules for the Hawaiian government. Queen Liliuokalani wanted it to replace the Constitution of 1887. Even though this new constitution was never officially used, it greatly changed Hawaiʻi's history. It led to events that caused the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom, ending the monarchy.

Why a New Constitution?

The King's Power Changes

Before 1887, Hawaiian kings and queens had a lot of power. They were like the main leaders of the country. But the 1887 Constitution changed this. It made the monarch (the king or queen) more of a symbol, with less real power.

Attempts to Change the Rules

In 1890, King David Kalākaua tried to change the 1887 constitution. He wanted to give the monarch more power back. But his ideas did not pass.

When Queen Liliuokalani became queen in 1891, she also tried to change the constitution. She wanted to lower the property requirement for voting. This meant more regular people could vote, not just those who owned a lot of land. But her ideas also failed in 1892. Many Hawaiian citizens were upset by this.

Thousands of people asked the Queen to create a new constitution. They wanted her to do what Kamehameha V had done in 1864. Queen Liliuokalani worked with Hawaiian lawmakers Joseph Nāwahī and William Pūnohu White. She also got help from Samuel Nowlein, who led the Household Guards. Together, they wrote a new constitution.

What Was Different in the New Constitution?

The constitution Queen Liliuokalani suggested was very different from the 1887 one. Here are some of the main changes:

• People who worked for the government, like advisors and public notaries, could run for the legislature (the law-making group).
• Princess Kaʻiulani, Prince Kawānanakoa, and Prince Kalanianaʻole would be added to the line of succession. This meant they could become the next rulers.
• The Queen would have the power to call meetings of the legislature.
• The legislature would meet in April instead of May.
• The Queen's private lands and property would be protected and could not be taken away.
• The Queen would have to sign all new laws. Under the old constitution, if the legislature voted for a law again with a two-thirds majority, it became law even without the Queen's signature. The new constitution would make her sign it.
• Lawmakers would get paid more, going from $250 to $500.
• The Queen would choose the nobles (important leaders) instead of them being elected.
• The number of representatives in the legislature could increase from 24 to 48.
• Fewer property requirements were needed for people to vote. This meant more people could vote.
• American and European residents, who got the right to vote in 1887, would lose that right.
• Supreme Court judges would serve for six years instead of for life.
• The Queen could choose governors for each island for four years.
• A rule from the 1887 Constitution that said the monarch had to act "with the advice and consent of the Cabinet" was removed. This would give the Queen more freedom.

The Reaction and Overthrow

Queen Liliʻuokalani met with her ministers at ʻIolani Palace. Many Native Hawaiians waited outside, hoping for the new constitution.

Meetings and Promises

Before January 14, 1893, the Queen's advisors had told her they agreed a new constitution was needed. The Queen held meetings to hear everyone's ideas. She believed her advisors were loyal and would support her plan.

On January 14, 1893, the Queen met with her advisors at ʻIolani Palace. But none of them would sign the new constitution. It turned out they had been telling the Queen's political opponents about her plans. They knew their actions would cause trouble.

The Queen was worried about what this meant for Native Hawaiians. The 1887 constitution, sometimes called the "Bayonet Constitution," limited their rights. In 1892, about 7,000 out of 9,500 voters had sent petitions to the Queen asking for a new constitution. The Queen felt she had to listen to her people.

A Crowd Gathers

Outside the palace, a large crowd of Native Hawaiians waited. They expected the Queen to announce the new constitution. But after her meeting, Queen Liliuokalani went to the palace balcony. She told the crowd that the new constitution would have to wait. She asked them to go home peacefully.

The Plan to Overthrow

That evening, a group of the Queen's opponents met. They were concerned about the Queen trying to get more power back. Some, like Henry Baldwin, wanted to be careful. But others, like Lorrin A. Thurston, wanted to completely remove the monarchy.

This group made a plan. They decided to form a Committee of Safety. Their goal was to overthrow the monarchy, set up a temporary government, and ask the United States to take over Hawaii.

The Monarchy Ends

The next Monday, the Queen said she would only try to change the constitution using the rules of the 1887 constitution. But the Committee of Safety did not believe her. They continued with their plan.

The Committee of Safety asked the U.S. Minister, John L. Stevens, to send troops from the U.S.S. Boston ship. The ship was in Honolulu Harbor. They said the troops were needed to "protect American lives and property." Minister Stevens sent about 300 Marines. Their orders were to protect American citizens and help keep order.

On January 17, 1893, at 2:00 PM, a statement was read. It declared that the monarchy was overthrown. U.S. troops were stationed nearby, ordered to stay neutral. The Queen gave up her power. She said she was doing so because of the "superior force of the United States government." However, she gave her surrender to the new temporary government, not directly to the U.S. government. The Kingdom of Hawaiʻi was over. A new provisional government was in charge.

The United States and other countries quickly recognized this new temporary government. But U.S. President Grover Cleveland disagreed with what happened. He tried for years to bring the monarchy back. He said the actions of Minister Stevens and the Committee of Safety were "an act of war."

Queen Liliuokalani's Trial and Imprisonment

In 1895, some Hawaiian royalists tried to bring Queen Liliuokalani back to power. This attempt failed, and the Queen was arrested. She was forced to sign a paper giving up all her future claims to the throne.

After this, she had a public trial. It was held in her former throne room. She was found guilty of knowing about the royalist plot. She was fined $5000 and sentenced to five years in prison. But her sentence was changed. Instead, she was kept in an upstairs bedroom of ʻIolani Palace.

During her time in the palace, the Queen could only have one visitor, a lady-in-waiting. Each day, she would start with prayers. Then she would read, quilt, crochet, or write music.

After leaving ʻIolani Palace, the Queen was under house arrest for five more months at her private home, Washington Place. For another eight months, she was not allowed to leave Oʻahu. Finally, all restrictions were lifted.