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In this History Lab investigation, students act as history detectives as they investigate an important and controversial event in American and Hawaiian history: the overthrow of Queen Liliʻuokalani and the role of the United States in bringing down an independent kingdom.
Was the US military simply protecting American lives and property during a political crisis, or did American officials and troops help overthrow Hawaiʻi's Queen?
Students analyze conflicting primary sources and firsthand accounts to investigate what really happened in January 1893 and determine how much responsibility the United States should bear.
75-90 minute activity
The Blount Report, which concluded that American intervention helped make the overthrow possible
The Morgan Report, which defended the landing of American troops
The Committee of Safety's letter requesting American military assistance
US Minister John L. Stevens's orders to land American troops in Honolulu
Queen Liliʻuokalani's powerful protest against the overthrow of her government
US Rear Admiral Skerrett's assessment of where American troops were stationed and what their location suggested about their purpose
As they work through the sources, students evaluate conflicting accounts, examine the motives and actions of American officials, and determine whether the United States was largely, somewhat, or not responsible for the overthrow. Students practice sourcing, analyzing primary sources, corroborating evidence, evaluating reliability, and distinguishing between historical claims and evidence.
After analyzing the documents, students compare the competing explanations for the overthrow and develop their own verdict on the extent of American responsibility.
Students then use evidence from multiple documents to build a historical argument supporting their conclusion while also considering evidence that challenges their claim. Their final task is a structured writing assignment where they learn how to support conclusions with historical evidence and address counterclaims.
This lesson is an engaging way to teach American imperialism, the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy, and US expansion in the Pacific while building critical thinking and historical argumentation skills.
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