The U.S. Annexation of Hawaii
How did Hawaii become a part of the United States of America
Through the use of sugar trade america was able to really get a foothold on Hawaii. However when Congress approved McKinley Tariff import rates on foreign sugar were raised. As a result of this Hawaiian sugar planters were being undersold in the American market and thus depression swept the island. Many sugar growers in Hawaii knew that if Hawaii were to be annexed by the United States then the McKinley Tariff would disappear. Since planters wanted to be annexed they staged and uprising to overthrow the queen on January 1893. Because of this Marines stormed the island without presidential approval. The president of the time Grover Cleveland denied the annexation treaty because of potential wrong doing, not only did he deny the annexation but he also aimed to restore the queen. However the problem persisted far after the President Grover Cleveland's terms was over. This is why after careful considerations President William McKinley signed a joint resolution annexing the Island on 1875.
This is Foreign Policy because the United States had to decide whether or not it would want to annex Hawaii. Not only that but trading sugar between the United States and Hawaii was a form of foreign policy. When the U.S decided to impose the McKinley Tariff the Hawaiian Islands went into depression. This shows the impact that foreign policy of the U.S has on other countries/Islands.
