Wilcox rebellion of 1889 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wilcox rebellion of 1889
Part of the Hawaiian rebellions (1887–1895)
Modern photo of Iolani Palace
Date July 30, 1889 Location Honolulu, Hawaii Result Decisive Reformist Victory Status quo ante bellum 1887 Constitution maintained Wilcox Surrenders Rebels tried and most serve one year sentences.
Belligerents
Hawaiian League Kingdom of Hawaii	Liberal Patriotic Association (Redshirts)
Commanders and leaders
Volney V. Ashford Kalākaua John Paul Kahalewai Robert Parker Waipa	Robert W. Wilcox (POW) Albert Loomens (POW) Robert N. Boyd (POW)
Strength
Honolulu Rifles 100-200 militiamen Kingdom of Hawaii 30 Royal Guardsmen	150 militiamen
Casualties and losses
None	7-8 killed 12 wounded 70 captured

The Wilcox rebellion of 1889 was a revolt led by Robert Wilcox. He wanted to force King Kalākaua of Hawaii to bring back an older set of rules, the Constitution of 1864. This would replace the newer Constitution of 1887.

Why Did the Rebellion Happen?

The Liberal Patriotic Association: Who Were the Redshirts?

Robert William Wilcox

Robert Wilcox came back to Hawaii from San Francisco. He had the support of Princess Liliʻuokalani. Wilcox then planned another rebellion for July 30, 1889. His goal was to give the King more power again. He wanted to bring back the Constitution of 1864.

Wilcox shared his plan with Robert N. Boyd, a friend from his time studying in Italy. Together, they gathered about 80 people. These included Hawaiians, Europeans, and Chinese. They formed a group called the Liberal Patriotic Association. Chinese business owners, who had lost rights under the new constitution, helped fund the plan. Each rebel received a red shirt uniform. This was inspired by the "Redshirt" volunteers led by Giuseppe Garibaldi in Italy, whom Wilcox admired.

The Reform Party: What Was the Bayonet Constitution?

The Bayonet Constitution was a set of rules forced upon King Kalākaua. It was created by the Hawaiian League, a group of foreign businessmen in Honolulu. They had the backing of the Honolulu Rifles. This was a volunteer army unit loyal to the Reform Party, not fully to the King.

Many people disliked this new constitution. It greatly limited the King's power. It also made it harder for common people to vote. This was because it required them to own a lot of property. Because of these voting rules, the Reform Party won the elections in 1887. This put the government mostly in the hands of American business interests.

King Kalākaua's Role in the Rebellion

The Bayonet Constitution made King Kalākaua mostly a symbolic leader. Most of the power went to the legislature, which made the laws. The King knew about the rebellion approaching ʻIolani Palace. So, he stayed away at Honuakaha, the home of Queen Kapiolani.

One idea is that he first supported Wilcox's plans. But then he heard rumors that the rebels might replace him with his sister, Liliʻuokalani. So, he avoided the palace. He moved to a secret spot, his boathouse. This way, he could escape by sea if needed, with twelve armed guards.

The Battle for the Palace

Lt. Robert Parker Waipa, commander of the 30 Royal Guards

On the morning of July 30, 1889, Wilcox's Redshirts entered the Palace grounds. They surrounded ʻIolani Palace. Other rebels took over nearby buildings like Aliʻiōlani Hale and Kapuaiwa. The Redshirts pointed two captured cannons at the palace. Inside, 30 Royal Guards were waiting. Lieutenant Robert Parker Waipa, who was in charge of the guards, refused to give up.

King Kalākaua knew about the rebellion. He had stayed away from the palace. He worried it was another plot to remove him from power. The Reform Party quickly learned about the revolt. They sent the Honolulu Rifles to stop it. Colonel Ashford, a Canadian immigrant, led the Rifles. They took positions in nearby buildings, like the Opera House, and began firing at the rebels. Snipers were also placed in the Kawaiahaʻo Church clock tower.

One of the rebel cannons fired at the Opera House from close range. But the cannon was also close enough for the Rifles to shoot back. The rebel gun crews had to leave their cannons. The Redshirts were pushed into other buildings. There, they continued to fight the Honolulu Rifles. The Royal Guard at the palace stayed neutral during the fight. King Kalākaua had told them not to fire unless the rebels tried to enter the palace. Some of the Honolulu Rifles thought this was like helping the rebels.

There were also worries that the 2nd Battalion Hawaiian Volunteers might join Wilcox. This group was at ʻIolani Barracks. They were sympathetic to the rebels and had let the cannons be taken without a fight. But they did not join the battle. Princess Liliʻuokalani had visited the guardsmen before the fight. She told them to remain neutral.

Shortly after noon, Wilcox's men were cleared from the surrounding buildings. This included twelve men in Aliʻiōlani Hale. Only the palace grounds and its buildings remained in rebel hands. Later, the Rifles used grenadiers with sticks of dynamite to attack the Palace Bungalow. This was a strong point for the Redshirts. They threw the dynamite over the palace walls. The explosions blew open the roof of the Bungalow. Rebels inside were killed and wounded. Soon after the explosion, Wilcox and his men gave up.

What Happened After the Rebellion?

After the rebellion, Wilcox's group lost seven or eight men. Twelve were wounded, including Boyd, who was hit twice. The Palace Bungalow was so damaged it had to be torn down. Marines from the USS Adams patrolled the streets of Honolulu for a week.

Most of the rebels were sent to prison for one year. George Markham and Boyd avoided being tried by helping the government's case. Wilcox was accused of a serious crime against the government. But an all-Hawaiian jury found him not guilty. Lieutenant Albert Loomens, who was Belgian and the only pure Caucasian leader of the Liberal Patriotic Association, was tried by an all-white jury. He was the only one found guilty for his part in the rebellion. He faced a severe punishment, but it was later changed to being sent away from Hawaii.

The 2nd Battalion Hawaiian Volunteers was broken up. This was because they were seen as disloyal to the King and stayed neutral during the fight. Two years later, in 1891, King Kalākaua passed away in San Francisco. Liliʻuokalani then became the Queen of Hawaii. Wilcox later held an important position in her government. He was elected as a member of the Royal Legislature.