Proclamation of Kamehameha IV, King of Hawaiian Islands
8/1861
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In August 1861, King Kamehameha IV proclaimed that the Hawaiian Islands would remain neutral in the conflict between the United States and “certain States therof styling themselves ‘The Confederate States of America.’” The King prohibited his subjects from helping either side raid commercial vessels during the U.S. Civil War. Since commerce raiding was a key component of the Confederacy’s naval strategy, that prohibition affected the South more than it did the North.
This primary source comes from the General Records of the Department of State.
Full Citation: Proclamation of Kamehameha IV, King of Hawaiian Islands; 8/1861; Despatches from Diplomatic Officers, 1789 - 1906; General Records of the Department of State, Record Group 59; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/proclamation-kamehameha, May 23, 2025]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.
