Final answer:
If King Kalakaua had not signed the Bayonet Constitution, Hawaii's monarchy could have retained power, potentially preventing U.S. annexation and allowing for reforms by Queen Lili'uokalani that favored native Hawaiians.
Step-by-step explanation:
If King Kalakaua had not signed the Bayonet Constitution, the history of Hawaii might have followed a very different path. Without the Bayonet Constitution, the Hawaiian monarchy could have maintained its power, potentially allowing Queen Lili'uokalani to enact her intended reforms, which sought to restore the rights of native Hawaiians. It is possible that without the diminished monarchy, there may not have been a U.S. backed overthrow, and Hawaii could have remained an independent nation or retained more autonomy within a different form of union with the United States.
The Bayonet Constitution significantly disenfranchised Native Hawaiians and bolstered the power of white American businessmen, which paved the way for the annexation of Hawaii to the United States. If this constitution had not been signed, American planters might not have been able to wield the same level of power, potentially preventing them from enforcing their economic interests through annexation. Additionally, King Kalakaua's successor Queen Lili'uokalani may have been able to maintain and strengthen the monarchy, advocating for 'Hawaii for Hawaiians' and implementing policies that could have resisted annexation.