Petition Against the Annexation of Hawaii
1897
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In 1897, more than 21,000 native Hawaiians—out of a population of less than 40,000—signed this petition opposing the annexation of Hawaii (these are two pages of the almost 600-page petition). It contributed to the defeat of a proposed annexation treaty.
After America went to war with Spain in 1898, however, proponents of annexation argued that Hawaii was needed to support military action in the Philippines. In July 1898, a joint resolution passed control of Hawaii’s 6,450 square miles of territory to the United States.
Text adapted from “The 1897 Petition Against the Annexation of Hawaii” in the November/December 1999 National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) publication Social Education.
After America went to war with Spain in 1898, however, proponents of annexation argued that Hawaii was needed to support military action in the Philippines. In July 1898, a joint resolution passed control of Hawaii’s 6,450 square miles of territory to the United States.
Text adapted from “The 1897 Petition Against the Annexation of Hawaii” in the November/December 1999 National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) publication Social Education.
This primary source comes from the Records of the U.S. Senate.
National Archives Identifier: 595390
Full Citation: Petition Against the Annexation of Hawaii; 1897; Petitions and Memorials, Resolutions of State Legislatures, and Related Documents, which were referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations from the 55th Congress; Petitions and Memorials, 1817 - 2000; Records of the U.S. Senate, Record Group 46; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/petition-against-annexation-hawaii, April 23, 2025]Activities that use this document
- Petition Against Annexation of Hawaii
Created by the National Archives Education Team - The Constitution in Action: Article IV (Lab Team 5)
Created by the National Archives Education Team
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