Final answer:
The three main causes of the Hawaiian overthrow were the imposition of the Bayonet Constitution by American businessmen, the negative impact of the McKinley Tariff on the Hawaiian economy, and Queen Lili'uokalani's attempted reforms that sought to restore monarchical power and promote native Hawaiian interests, resulting in the annexation of Hawaii by the United States.
Step-by-step explanation:
The overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893 was the culmination of a series of events, primarily driven by the interests of American businessmen in maintaining and expanding their economic power in the Hawaiian Islands.
- The Bayonet Constitution: In 1887, the Hawaiian League, comprising mostly White American businessmen, coerced King Kalākaua to accept a new constitution, significantly weakening the monarchy and thereby diminishing the political power of Native Hawaiians.
- Economic Influence and Dependence: The Hawaiian economy had become heavily dependent on the sugar trade with the United States. The passage of the U.S. McKinley Tariff in 1890 raised the price of Hawaiian sugar, damaging the economy and increasing dissatisfaction among American planters who lobbied for the annexation of Hawaii to escape these tariffs.
- Queen Lili'uokalani's Reforms: The successor to King Kalākaua, Queen Lili'uokalani, attempted to restore the monarchy's authority and sought a "Hawaii for Hawaiians" policy that threatened the economic and political interests of American planters. This prompted them to support the illegal overthrow of the queen, backed by the United States military.
The overthrow was facilitated by the presence of U.S. Marines and led to the establishment of the Republic of Hawaii, with Sanford B. Dole as president. Despite President Grover Cleveland's objection to the coup and the recognition of the overthrow as an illegal act, the annexation of Hawaii to the United States eventually took place in 1898.