In 1892, the monarchy that ruled Hawaii was overthrown by a group led by American businessmen. This led to a new constitutional government. That government negotiated a treaty of annexation with the United States. President Benjamin Harrison (1833-1901; see entry in volume 3) presented the treaty to the U.S. Senate for ratification in February 1893 (see Benjamin Harrison primary source entry in volume 3).

Before the treaty could be approved, President Harrison's term of office expired in March 1893. He was succeeded by Grover Cleveland (1837-1908; see entry in volume 3), who opposed the treaty. Cleveland was among those Americans who warned against American imperialism—actions by a stronger nation to dominate a weaker one. Cleveland withdrew the treaty from the Senate and supported efforts to return Hawaii's deposed monarch, Queen Liliuokalani (lih-LEE-uh-woh-kuh-LON-ee; 1838-1917), to the...