Key Events

- Interest in Hawaii began early as 1820's

- Americans obtained foothold in Hawaii due to the Sugar trade

- U.S. government provided terms to sugar growers that were generous & profitable

- Profits began to increase after Civil War

- In 1890, congress approved the McKinney Tariff

- Tariff raised import rates on foreign sugar

- Hawaiian sugar planters was being undersold in American market

- As a result, the islands were swept with depression

- The same time Hawaiian throne was given to Queen Liliuokalani

- The queen determined that foreign interference was the key root to Hawaii's problems