Legislation1898
Hawaii Annexed by the United States
President William McKinley signed the Newlands Resolution, annexing the Republic of Hawaii as a U.S. territory. The annexation followed the 1893 overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani, which had been aided by American sugar planters and U.S. Marines.
Why It Matters
Hawaii's annexation raised enduring questions about American expansion, the rights of indigenous peoples, and the relationship between economic interests and government action. Hawaii became the 50th state in 1959.