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Colonization of hawaii tourism industry
Manifest destiny in our history
Manifest destiny in our history
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The Great Annexation of Hawaii Manifest Destiny was the idea that the United States not only could, but was destined to stretch from coast to coast. The United States obtained many territories and pieces of land during the 19th century that led to the achievement of Manifest Destiny. After this accomplishment, the nation looked to expand beyond their current borders, so they settled on a collection of islands situated in a desirable location in the middle of the Pacific. These islands, known as Hawaii, would provide our country with an excellent advantage to aid our military, and they would also serve to strengthen our economy. The annexation of Hawaii was a brilliant addition to America in 1898. First off, Hawaii has a prime location for …show more content…
a naval base. Alfred Mahan, a U.S. Navy Captain believed that to defend the United States borders, our country would need a very strong and powerful navy (“Hawaii’s Strategic Location”). In that period of time, attacking a nation required approaching with a fleet of ships. With the U.S. Navy positioned in Hawaii, they could recognize an attack earlier and be better prepared to defend the mainland. At this time, battle between nations was not uncommon, and this excellent advantage would benefit the military. The strategic location in relation to the Pacific coast of the U.S.
would allow the military to protect and defend our borders more effectively (James). Some Americans argued that the strategic position could actually be a vulnerable point as the islands are somewhat difficult to defend and we cannot access all of our important resources. However, with the strong and forceful nation the United States possesses, the harbors and naval bases would absolutely deter foreign powers. New resources would be acquired and the bases would be sustained with a fully-capable fleet of ships in case of attack. Additionally, the Hawaiian islands are crucial to the United States economy boost. They are capable of producing a great deal of coffee, sugar, rice, and tropical fruit due to the fertile soil and suitable climate (James). These resources prove to be excellent in trade between America. In fact, exports from the U.S. to Hawaii increased from approximately 2 million in 1885 to over 20 million in 1915. The exports from Hawaii into the U.S. also experienced a drastic incline, increasing by 52 million within the same time (“Statistics”). Trade between the US and Hawaii was not the only commercial relationship to thrive. Albert Beveridge, a US Senator from Indiana, appropriately believed that our
largest trade needed to be with Asia, as in the future, trade across the Pacific will be the most significant of all (Abbot). He knew that while nations across the ocean developed, it was very important to trade with them and establish good relations early on. He knew that with Hawaii as the midpoint between the continents, having it under our control would enhance our trade with Asia. It could also serve as the refueling station for ships passing through carrying exports. Military and economical were just a few of the many reasons why the annexation of the Hawaiian Islands served to be one of the greatest additions to the United States.
Foreign exploitation began, when Cook replaced the traditional island subsistence-sharing economy by the for-profit barter and afterward the money economy. Firearms, and sandalwood lumbering where just a few items that brought foreign economic and political control of the ruling ali’i, who were tricked by many greedy Western merchants. The Great Mahele of 1848 and the Kuleana Act of 1850 contained a major land redistribution act, which was forced onto the monarchy by Westerners(Blaisdell, p.44). Bringing fee simple ownership to Hawaiians, these land divisions actually alienated the land from them. The Mahele divided the lands between the chiefs, king and government. The Kuleana act supposedly guaranteed to the makaainana fee simple title to small plots of land, which would eventually separate the individual from the group. (Trask, p.10) Hawaiians depended on the land, they were not use to “private property”, which led to many problems, and the chiefs and the government were heavily indebt to the Western merchants.
Manifest Destiny was the motivating force behind the rapid expansion of America into the West. This ideal was highly sponsored by posters, newspapers, and various other methods of communication. Propaganda is and is still an incredibly common way to spread an idea to the masses. Though Manifest Destiny was not an official government policy, it led to the passing of the Homestead Act. The Homestead Act gave applicants freehold titles of undeveloped land outside of the original thirteen colonies.
Reginald Horsman’s Race and Manifest Destiny: The Origins of American Racial Anglo-Saxonism explores the evidence and reasons for racial prejudices in America and discusses one of the most controversial topics in American history. The book also navigates the subjects of white superiority, and the creation of Anglo-Saxonism. Manifest Destiny was the belief that the United States was destined to expand from the Atlantic seaboard to the Pacific Ocean; it has also been used to advocate for or justify other territorial acquisitions. Advocates of Manifest Destiny believed that expansion was not only good, but that it was obvious and certain. Originally a political catch phrase of the 19th century, "Manifest Destiny" eventually became a standard historical term, often used as a synonym for the expansion of the United States across the North American continent.
John L. Stevens came to the island of Oahu in September 1889, acting as the U.S. Minister to Hawaii. While his mission in Hawaii was not clearly stated, his political actions on the islands clearly showed that Stevens thought that the annexation of Hawaii was proper and inevitable.
Eventually, the expansion to this area became imperialistic. Pearl Harbor, on the island of Oahu, offered one of the most attractive natural bases in the Pacific. Soon other Americans followed to become sugar planters and to establish profitable businesses. Americans were busy building huge plantations, warehouses, railroads, dry-docks, banks, hotels, and stores. They soon dominated the island's economy, and they were able to influence its government as well. Americans created and controlled Hawaii's legislature and cabinet, and they limited the power of the native king. As the century began to come to a close, disputes arose between the Kanaka and those of foreign descent. "Hawaii for Hawaiians" became the slogan of people who sought to restore the traditional ways of the kingdom. Others called for the annexation of Hawaii by the United States. Annexation would eliminate the recent trade restrictions on sugar and revive the island's faltering economy. The imperialistic was taking over the islands.
The Manifest Destiny was a progressive movement starting in the 1840's. John O'Sullivan, a democratic leader, named the movement in 1845. Manifest Destiny meant that westward expansion was America's destiny. The land that was added to the U.S. after 1840 (the start of Manifest Destiny) includes The Texas Annexation (1845), The Oregon Country (1846), The Mexican Cession (1848), The Gadsden Purchase (1853), Alaska (1867), and Hawaii (1898). Although this movement would take several years to complete, things started changing before we knew it.
During the Second World War after the attack on Pearl Harbor Guam was also attacked and seized by the Japanese military this is when the Pacific war had begun. The United States now focused their attention on the Philippines, Iwo Jima, and the Mariana Islands. Hoping to capture Guam back from the Japanese, United States also wanted to capture the remaining islands. These islands would be in the front lines of the war in the Pacific. 1
...se having more land naturally meant having more space for the immigrants and new opportunities. When business expanded, it meant having more wealth for the business owner. After the annexation of Hawaii, the natural resources were enjoyed by both America and Hawaii. Despite the fact that Hawaii was annexed during the war with Spain as a strategic move, America took great care in the expansion of the island (Thurston 1897).
“If all of this seems long ago and far away, it is worth remembering that the past is never past.” (Faulkner cited in Ellison, P.274)
In Asia however there was a different dominant country, Japan. Japan had stayed and watched things go by in Asia for years, they were like a dormant volcano waiting to erupt. They had watched countries like America, England, France and even Holland take islands and turn them to colonies, so why couldn't they do the same thing? Japan was eager to expand its borders, they knew that they could do it, however there was one problem, The U.S. They were currently the dominant country in the southern islands of Asia. With bases situated in Pearl Harbour and the Philippines, Japan had to weaken the American Navy before they could expand. Japan attacked pearl harbour by surprise, thinking that they could put the American Fleet out of action. This would give them a year to expand all they wanted to. Japan first moved west and took Manchuria and parts of China.
American Hawaii Hawaii is known for its beautiful beaches, it’s nice year-round weather, and its culture. Thousands of vacationers come to Hawaii each year to get away from the stressful city and relax. But do they know how cruel the Americans were to the natives? Do they know how we corrupted their culture and their religion? Do they know how Hawaii really became a state? Probably not. When most people think of Hawaii, they think of happy Hawaiian babes hula dancing and palm trees swaying in the warm breeze. Hawaii has still held on to many of their traditions although they were invaded by Americans. But you have to go to a museum to see their old way of life. Hawaii is now populated mostly by Americans. Native Hawaiians have adapted to our American lifestyle and much of their old traditions and beliefs are lost in history books. America dominated over the Hawaiians just as they did with the Native Americans. The Hawaiians didn’t even stand a chance against big brother. They probably feel the same way towards America just as a child does with stubborn parents. Now I will tell you about the history of Hawaii so you will see how the United States came to annex Hawaii. Hawaii was first inhabited by the Polynesians. They came in canoes from other islands around the pacific. They called the new found island "Hawaii", which means "home" in Polynesian language. Hawaii was their home until the white man came in and took advantage of these simple, happy aborigines. The corruption of this unique and fragile culture first started when Captain James Cook ran into the islands on January 18, 1778. After Cook’s discovery, many other foreigners (mostly American) visited the islands. They brought clothes, livestock, orange trees, horses weapons and souvigners. Foreigners also brought with them a handful of deadly diseases such as smallpox, measles, syphilis, tuberculosis, and whooping cough. During the time period of Cook’s arrival in 1778 to 1820, the population of Hawaii dropped from 300,000 to 135,000 due to the diseases! Another problem was the introduction of alcohol. Like the native americans, Hawaiians were not immune to alcohol. Hawaiian’s were very sensitive to alcoholism. Hawaiians religion was a very complex one with many gods. They worshiped idols and they belived in many f...
One of the largest and most wealthy countries in the world, the United States of America, has gone through many changes in its long history. From winning its independence from Great Britain to present day, America has changed dramatically and continues to change. A term first coined in the 1840s, "Manifest Destiny" helped push America into the next century and make the country part of what it is today. The ideas behind Manifest Destiny played an important role in the development of the United States by allowing the territorial expansion of the 1800s. Without the expansion of the era, America would not have most of the western part of the country it does now.
The Annexation of Hawai’i to the United States occurred in 1898 and even at the time there was no agreement on causation, effect, or even on the useful nature of the legislation. Since the Annexation, Historians have attempted to recreate the situation into understandable terms for readers while also outlining their arguments for cause, effect, or use. As each generation enters with new sources and new perspectives, the understanding of the Annexation becomes less straight forward but also more informed.
Hawaii had the premium leading harbor in the mid-Pacific and was considered a vital profitable coaling station and marine base, from surfboard to hula to the steel string guitar it was land of great geographical and commercial advantage therefore annexation of Hawaii by the United states would
Hawaii is a small chain of islands nearly 4,300 miles away and was the last state to be admitted to the Union of the United States of America. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the act the made Hawaii a state on August 21, 1959. There are eight main islands: Hawaii, Maui, Oahu, Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, Niihau, and Kahoolawe. These islands were made by a series of volcanic eruptions. Over 7 million people visit Hawaii each year.