The Bayonet Constitution

The Bayonet Constitution refers to the 1887 political change imposed on Hawaii's monarchy. American and European businessmen, seeking greater control over Hawaiian resources and government, forced King Kalākaua to sign a new constitution under threats of violence, including a bayonet. This constitution reduced the king’s power, limited voting rights primarily to wealthy, predominantly white, landowners, and increased the influence of foreigners in Hawaii’s government. It marked a pivotal step toward the erosion of Hawaiian sovereignty and paved the way for eventual annexation by the United States.