Changes

Hawaii from 1893-1895 had effectively been ruled by the Committee of Safety, who had lobbied formal annexation of Hawaii by the US government. The new government was known as the Republic of Hawaii with Sanford B. Dole as head of government. However, President Cleveland, instead, felt the overthrow during the time of his predecessor was illegal and wanted Queen Liliʻuokalani back on the thrown. A royalist faction had attempted to overthrow the Republic, but was stopped before their attempt came into fruition and the Queen was now placed in house arrest and was made to formally abdicate the thrown. By 1897, the new President, William McKinley, was determined to expand the United States as European and other powers also extended their territory globally and across the Pacific. He felt the United States needed to compete. Japan had vehemently opposed annexation, even sending warships in an event that foreshadowed the events of Pearl Harbor 44 years later. With the Newlands Resolution in July 7, 1898, Congress paved the way for Hawaii to be formally annexed. Despite widespread opposition that wanted the queen to be reinstated, Sanford B. Dole was appointed as the new territory governor in 1900. Hawaiin governors became appointed by the US president, with advise and consent from the Senate, under the Organic Act, which also established Hawaii's territorial government.<ref>For more on the process of Hawaii becoming part of the United States, see: Bell, R.J., 1984. <i>Last among equals: Hawaiian statehood and American politics</i>. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu.</ref>