Key Figures

Queen Liliuokalani- Queen of Hawaii who wanted a more powerful monarchy. She was overthrown by Hawaiian business men and the U.S. military which forced her to give up Hawaii to the U.S. In 1895 she was arrested in an attempt to restore her throne and in 1917 because of a stroke.

Daniel Webster- Secretary of State that sent a letter to Hawaiian agents from Washington affirming that the U.S. had interest in Hawaii.

President Grover Cleveland- Was the 24th President and the first democratic president that was in office after the civil war, he was also the only president to finish his term and comeback four years later to run for his second term. He opposed the annexation of Hawaii and tried to restore the queens power.

President William McKinley- Was the 25th President (1896-1901), he signed a resolution annexing Hawaii as a territory in the 1900's during the 100 days war with the Spanish. Hawaii remained a territory until granted statehood as the 50th state in 1959. He died when he began his second term in 1901.