King Kalakaua
King Kalakaua was elected by the legislature in hawaii in 1874. He was so popular in the election because the sugar growers in Hawaii would benefit from him signing the reciprocity treaty if he became king. The treaty would allow them to export and import goods (mainly rice and sugar) tax free in Hawaii. The Hawaiian League was formed in 1887 composed of elite business men and sugar growers of missionary descent. It's primary goal was to eliminate the monarchy by further reducing the king's power. They desired an American democracy so badly that they forced the king to appoint a new cabinet consisting of members from the Hawaiian League. In that same year, Kalakaua adopted the Bayonet constitution because Lorrin Thurston , grandson of American missionaries, was the backbone for the revolution against the Hawaiian Monarchy. Lorrin and other American missionaries had a goal to (in their words) "reform" the monarchy. Thurston had a vision to change the Government of H
The privilege of voting was no longer limited to citizens of the kingdom, but was extended to foreign residents -- provided they were American or European. Asians were excluded -- even those who had become naturalized citizens. The House of Nobles, formerly appointed by the king, would now be elected, and voters and candidates for it had to meet a high property ownership or income requirement -- which excluded two-thirds of the Native Hawaiian voters. While they could still vote for the House of Representatives, to do so they had to swear to uphold the despised Bayonet Constitution. The Bayonet Constitution greatly curtailed the king's power, making him a mere figurehead. It placed the actual executive power in the hands of the Cabinet, whose members could no longer be dismissed by the king, only by the Legislature. Amending this constitution was also the exclusive prerogative of the Legislature. The Hawaiians strenuously opposed the diminution of their voice in governing their
Some common words found in the essay are:
Honolulu Rifles, Hawaiian League, Native Hawaiian, King Kalakaua, Reform Cabinet, Government Hawaii, Bayonet Constitution, House Nobles, Constitution Hawaiians, Constitution Cabinet, bayonet constitution, hawaiian league, american missionaries, native hawaiian, league formed, sugar growers, military arm, king's power,
Approximate Word count = 668
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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