U.S. annexation of Hawaii

The annexation of Hawaii by the U.S. in 1898 was driven by economic, strategic, and political interests. American business interests, especially sugar planters, had significant influence in Hawaii, and they sought closer ties with the U.S. to control trade and tariffs. A small group of Americans, with U.S. support, overthrew Queen Liliuokalani’s monarchy in 1893, establishing a provisional government. The U.S. then officially annexed Hawaii in 1898, partly to strengthen military presence in the Pacific during the Spanish-American War. Hawaii became a U.S. territory, later achieving statehood in 1959.