State of Hawaii
Timeline of Events:
- 1778: Captain James Cook discovers the Hawaiian Islands.
- 1810: Kamehameha I unifies the Hawaiian Islands under one monarchy.
- 1820: Christian missionaries arrive in Hawaii.
- 1840: Kamehameha III signs a treaty recognizing the independence of Hawaii.
- 1843: Great Britain, France, and the United States sign a treaty recognizing the independence of Hawaii.
- 1893: The Hawaiian monarchy is overthrown by a group of American businessmen.
- 1898: Hawaii is annexed by the United States.
- 1959: Hawaii becomes the 50th state of the United States.
Important Legislation:
- Bayonet Constitution (1887): Granted non-native residents the right to vote and hold office.
- Organic Act of 1900: Established the Territory of Hawaii.
- Hawaii Admission Act (1959): Admitted Hawaii as the 50th state of the United States.
Important Court Cases:
- Rice v. Foster (1906): Upheld the right of the United States to annex Hawaii.
- Hawaii v. Mankichi (1903): Upheld the right of Japanese immigrants to own land in Hawaii.
- Korematsu v. United States (1944): Upheld the government’s internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.
Major Industry:
- Tourism
Impact on the Rest of the Country:
- Hawaii’s annexation by the United States increased the American presence in the Pacific Ocean.
- Hawaii’s statehood granted the citizens of Hawaii the same rights and privileges as citizens of the other states.
- Hawaii’s tourism industry has been a major economic driver for the state and the country as a whole.