Better Gods

Abstract

On January 17, 1893, Lorrin Thurston and a small group of American businessmen staged a coup d’état against the native monarch of Hawaii, Queen Lili’uokalani. The queen had proposed a new constitution that would restore voting rights to Hawaiian citizens while also limiting foreign influence in the government. Fearing the loss of their wealth and political clout, Thurston and his supporters claimed the queen had threatened American life and property and arranged for a company of U.S. Marines to land in Honolulu for their “protection.” Aided by the marines, the so-called Annexation Club removed Lili’uokalani from power and established a Provisional Government to rule the Hawaiian Islands unti..