cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/13297704

It’s worth noting that most all of the plantations were owned by Americans. Who were the majority landowners of the kingdom of Hawaii by the time, the US annexed it. In spite of efforts by the Hawaiian monarchal government. edit >As in, that’s who called in the troops.

  • PugJesus@kbin.social
    10·
    7 months ago

    Immediate annexation was prevented by President Grover Cleveland who told Congress:

    … the military demonstration upon the soil of Honolulu was of itself an act of war; unless made either with the consent of the government of Hawaii or for the bona fide purpose of protecting the imperiled lives and property of citizens of the United States. But there is no pretense of any such consent on the part of the government of the queen … the existing government, instead of requesting the presence of an armed force, protested against it. There is as little basis for the pretense that forces were landed for the security of American life and property. If so, they would have been stationed in the vicinity of such property and so as to protect it, instead of at a distance and so as to command the Hawaiian Government Building and palace … When these armed men were landed, the city of Honolulu was in its customary orderly and peaceful condition …[69]

    You know it’s bad when a 19th century politician is saying it’s a shitty way to treat a foreign nation.