Relations between the Kingdom of Hawaii and the United States
Encyclopedia
Kingdom of Hawaii – United States relations refers to the historical relationship
between the independent Kingdom of Hawaii
and the United States
. Relations included several treaties and exchanges of trade and diplomatic representatives from 1820 to 1893.
since 1820, relations with the United States
developed slowly, beginning in 1826, when the first treaty between the two countries was signed by Captain Thomas ap Catesby Jones
and Kuhina Nui
Kaahumanu.
However, recognition by the United States of Hawaii's government was withheld following the 1843 Paulet Affair
, after which the United Kingdom
and France
announced their recognition of the Kingdom of Hawaii. It was finally granted in 1849, when the United States and the Kingdom signed a treaty which established relations between the two countries.
The first United States Minister to Hawaii
(diplomatic rank
roughly equivalent to a modern Ambassador
) was David L. Gregg, who became minister to Hawaii in 1853.
A commercial agent (called Consul
starting in 1844) had served in the islands since 1820.
Further treaties were signed between the United States and Hawaii, including the Reciprocity Treaty of 1875
. Relations between the two countries were aggravated following the 1893 Overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom, in which then-Minister John L. Stevens
had participated; he was accused of inappropriate conduct by the Blount Report
, and was forced into retirement by the United States government that same year. After the Republic of Hawaii
was proclaimed, a new minister, James Henderson Blount
, was sent to the country to investigate the overthrow of the monarchy. After Blount issued his report, he was succeeded by Albert Sydney Willis, who convinced the deposed queen to grant an amnesty to the instigators of the coup, and then demanded that the Provisional Government
turn power back to the monarchy. This was refused by Sanford B. Dole
.
of Ambasador of full-time Minister to the United States.
Bilateralism
Bilateralism consists of the political, economic, or cultural relations between two sovereign states. For example, free trade agreements signed by two states are examples of bilateral treaties. It is in contrast to unilateralism or multilateralism, which refers to the conduct of diplomacy by a...
between the independent Kingdom of Hawaii
Kingdom of Hawaii
The Kingdom of Hawaii was established during the years 1795 to 1810 with the subjugation of the smaller independent chiefdoms of Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lānai, Kauai and Niihau by the chiefdom of Hawaii into one unified government...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Relations included several treaties and exchanges of trade and diplomatic representatives from 1820 to 1893.
History
While American missionaries and businessmen had settled as residents in the Kingdom of HawaiiKingdom of Hawaii
The Kingdom of Hawaii was established during the years 1795 to 1810 with the subjugation of the smaller independent chiefdoms of Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lānai, Kauai and Niihau by the chiefdom of Hawaii into one unified government...
since 1820, relations with the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
developed slowly, beginning in 1826, when the first treaty between the two countries was signed by Captain Thomas ap Catesby Jones
Thomas ap Catesby Jones
Thomas ap Catesby Jones was a U.S. Navy officer during the War of 1812 and the Mexican-American War.-Early life:Jones was born in 1790 in Westmoreland County, Virginia. Thomas ap Catesby Jones means Thomas, son of Catesby Jones in the Welsh language. His brother was Roger Jones, who would become...
and Kuhina Nui
Kuhina Nui
Kuhina Nui was a powerful office in the Kingdom of Hawaii from 1819 to 1864. It was usually held by a relative of the king and was the rough equivalent of the 19th century European office of Prime Minister or sometimes Regent.- Origin of the office :...
Kaahumanu.
However, recognition by the United States of Hawaii's government was withheld following the 1843 Paulet Affair
Paulet Affair (1843)
The Paulet Affair was a five month occupation of the Hawaiian Islands in 1843 by British naval officer Captain Lord George Paulet, of .-Paulet affair:...
, after which the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
announced their recognition of the Kingdom of Hawaii. It was finally granted in 1849, when the United States and the Kingdom signed a treaty which established relations between the two countries.
The first United States Minister to Hawaii
United States Minister to Hawaii
The Minister to Hawaii was an office of the United States Department of State to the Kingdom of Hawaii during the period of 1810 to 1898. Appointed by the President of the United States with the consent of Congress, the Minister to Hawaii was equivalent in rank to the present-day ambassador of the...
(diplomatic rank
Diplomatic rank
Diplomatic rank is the system of professional and social rank used in the world of diplomacy and international relations. Over time it has been formalized on an international basis.-Ranks:...
roughly equivalent to a modern Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
) was David L. Gregg, who became minister to Hawaii in 1853.
A commercial agent (called Consul
Consul (representative)
The political title Consul is used for the official representatives of the government of one state in the territory of another, normally acting to assist and protect the citizens of the consul's own country, and to facilitate trade and friendship between the peoples of the two countries...
starting in 1844) had served in the islands since 1820.
Further treaties were signed between the United States and Hawaii, including the Reciprocity Treaty of 1875
Reciprocity Treaty of 1875
The Treaty of reciprocity between the United States of America and the Hawaiian Kingdom was a free trade agreement signed and ratified in 1875 that is generally known as the Reciprocity Treaty of 1875....
. Relations between the two countries were aggravated following the 1893 Overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom, in which then-Minister John L. Stevens
John L. Stevens
John Leavitt Stevens was the United States Department of State Minister to the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1893 when he was accused of conspiring to overthrow Queen Liliuokalani in association with the Committee of Safety, led by Lorrin A. Thurston and Sanford B...
had participated; he was accused of inappropriate conduct by the Blount Report
Blount Report
The Blount Report is the popular name given to the part of the 1893 United States House of Representatives Foreign Relations Committee Report regarding the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii. The report was conducted by U.S. Commissioner James H. Blount, appointed by U.S...
, and was forced into retirement by the United States government that same year. After the Republic of Hawaii
Republic of Hawaii
The Republic of Hawaii was the formal name of the government that controlled Hawaii from 1894 to 1898 when it was run as a republic. The republic period occurred between the administration of the Provisional Government of Hawaii which ended on July 4, 1894 and the adoption of the Newlands...
was proclaimed, a new minister, James Henderson Blount
James Henderson Blount
James Henderson Blount was an American statesman, soldier and congressman from Georgia. He opposed the annexation of Hawaii in 1893 in his investigation into the alleged American involvement in the political revolution in the Kingdom of Hawai'i...
, was sent to the country to investigate the overthrow of the monarchy. After Blount issued his report, he was succeeded by Albert Sydney Willis, who convinced the deposed queen to grant an amnesty to the instigators of the coup, and then demanded that the Provisional Government
Provisional Government of Hawaii
The Provisional Government of Hawaii abbreviated "P.G." was proclaimed on January 17, 1893 by the 13 member Committee of Safety under the leadership of Sanford B. Dole...
turn power back to the monarchy. This was refused by Sanford B. Dole
Sanford B. Dole
Sanford Ballard Dole was a lawyer and jurist in the Hawaiian Islands as a kingdom, protectorate, republic and territory...
.
Diplomats from the kingdom to the US
Diplomatic representation in Washington, DC in the kingdom was through a series of ad-hoc envoys, and a post roughly equivalent to the current diplomatic rankDiplomatic rank
Diplomatic rank is the system of professional and social rank used in the world of diplomacy and international relations. Over time it has been formalized on an international basis.-Ranks:...
of Ambasador of full-time Minister to the United States.
- William RichardsWilliam Richards (Hawaii)William Richards was a missionary and politician in the Kingdom of Hawaii.-Family life:William Richards was born in Plainfield, Massachusetts on August 22, 1793. His father was James Richards and mother was Lydia Shaw. He was schooled under Moses Hallock in Plainfield, attended Williams College...
1842 - James Jackson JarvesJames Jackson JarvesJames Jackson Jarves was an American newspaper editor, and art critic who is remembered above all as the first American art collector to buy Italian primitives and Old Masters....
1849 - William Little LeeWilliam Little LeeWilliam Little Lee was an American lawyer who became the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court for the Kingdom of Hawaii.-Life:...
1855–1856 - Elisha Hunt AllenElisha Hunt AllenElisha Hunt Allen was an American congressman, lawyer, diplomat, and judge and diplomat for the Kingdom of Hawaii.-Life:Elisha Hunt Allen was born January 28, 1804 in New Salem, Massachusetts. His father was Massachusetts minister, lawyer, and politician Samuel Clesson Allen and mother was Mary...
1856–1883 - Henry A. P. CarterHenry A. P. CarterHenry Alpheus Peirce Carter also known as Henry Augustus Peirce Carter was an American businessman, politician, and diplomat in the Kingdom of Hawaii.-Family life:...
1883–1891 - John Mott-SmithJohn Mott-SmithJohn Mott-Smith was the first dentist to set up a permanent practice in the Kingdom of Hawaii. He was also a politician, newspaper editor, and diplomat.-Life:John Mott-Smith was born in New York City November 13, 1824,...
1891–1893
See also
- United States Minister to HawaiiUnited States Minister to HawaiiThe Minister to Hawaii was an office of the United States Department of State to the Kingdom of Hawaii during the period of 1810 to 1898. Appointed by the President of the United States with the consent of Congress, the Minister to Hawaii was equivalent in rank to the present-day ambassador of the...
- List of bilateral treaties signed by the Kingdom of Hawaii
- Hawaii – Tahiti relations