Final answer:
Since the 1790s, the U.S. and Hawaii have been connected through sugarcane commerce and strategic military interests, leading to economic treaties, the annexation of Hawaii in 1898, and its eventual statehood in 1959.
Step-by-step explanation:
The U.S. and Hawaii have been linked in several substantial ways since the 1790s. Initially, the connection began with commerce and strategic interests. American missionaries, followed by business investors, found the Hawaiian Islands' climate ideal for growing sugarcane, leading to profitable sugar exporting to the U.S. In the 1870s and 1880s, economic treaties were established that allowed Hawaiian sugar to enter the U.S. duty-free in exchange for territorial concessions. American business interests were also pivotal in pushing for political influence in Hawaii, leading to the annexation of Hawaii during the Spanish-American War.
The strategic value of Hawaii, known as the 'Crossroads of the Pacific', was recognized early on. American naval strategists valued Hawaiian harbors, which served as essential stopovers for whaling and merchant ships and as a protective gateway for shipping routes and future canal projects in Central America. In addition to these economic interests, the U.S. secured a naval base at Pearl Harbor, heightening the islands' strategic importance.
The annexation of Hawaii in 1898 and its path to statehood, culminating in becoming the 50th state in 1959, marked the final amalgamation of Hawaii within the United States. This pattern of annexation demonstrates a broader history of American expansionism and imperialism, often driven by both economic incentives and strategic military considerations.