1. Internal Political Tensions:
* Growing Nationalist Sentiment: Many Hawaiians resented the growing influence of American businesses and felt their traditional rights were being eroded.
* Queen's Attempts to Regain Power: Lili'uokalani tried to restore the power of the monarchy and limit the power of the wealthy, mostly American, landowners. She drafted a new constitution that would have reduced the power of the existing legislature.
* Conflict with the Elite: The elite, composed mostly of wealthy businessmen and landowners, were opposed to the Queen's efforts and felt threatened by her actions.
2. External Pressure:
* American Economic Interests: The United States had significant economic interests in Hawaii, including a major naval base at Pearl Harbor. The sugar industry, dominated by American companies, held considerable economic and political power.
* US Expansionism: The late 19th century was a period of American expansionism, and Hawaii was seen as a strategically important location for trade and military purposes.
3. The Coup d'état:
* The Committee of Safety: A group of wealthy businessmen, led by Sanford Dole, formed a committee to overthrow the Queen. They were supported by the American Minister to Hawaii, John L. Stevens, who ordered US Marines to land and protect the Committee.
* The Queen's Surrender: Faced with the overwhelming military force and the lack of support from other nations, Queen Lili'uokalani was forced to surrender.
4. Annexation:
* The Republic of Hawaii: The Committee of Safety established the Republic of Hawaii with Dole as its president.
* US Annexation: In 1898, the US annexed Hawaii, claiming it was necessary for national security and to protect American interests.
In summary, the deposition of Queen Lili'uokalani was a complex event driven by a combination of internal political tensions, external pressure from the United States, and a successful coup d'état by a group of wealthy businessmen who opposed the Queen's attempts to regain power.