Final answer:
The planters' revolt against Queen Liliuokalani was a conflict over political and economic control in Hawaii that ended with the American-backed overthrow of the queen and the eventual annexation of Hawaii by the United States.
Step-by-step explanation:
The planters' revolt against Queen Liliuokalani represented a significant turning point in the history of Hawaii. In an effort to retain Hawaii's independence and reassert political control, Queen Liliuokalani aimed to champion "Hawaii for the Hawaiians" by proposing a new constitution that would limit the political power of American planters. However, in January of 1893, dismayed by these reforms that threatened their interests, the planters, backed by the United States military forces, overthrew the queen in a bloodless coup. Queen Liliuokalani surrendered, believing the United States government would restore her to power upon reviewing the unlawful nature of her overthrow. Instead, the coup led to the establishment of a provisional government headed by Sanford B. Dole and ultimately concluded with the annexation of Hawaii by the United States in 1898.
Despite President Grover Cleveland's initial opposition to annexation, viewing the overthrow as an illegal act of war, the American planters and their supporters in Congress prevailed. The queen's progressive reforms, which included advocating for the rights of native Hawaiians and challenging the existing economic dependency on the United States, were used as a pretext by the sugar barons to justify the seizure of power. The story of Queen Liliuokalani reflects the struggle against imperial aggression, the fight for the rights of indigenous peoples, and the broader implications of American expansionist policies at the turn of the 20th century.