farshidbr
10th December 2006, 15:18
Hi
I had to write a report about the history of Hawaii. I know my English skills are not that good thats why I want to post ist here. If someone has any recomendations please post them. I am sorry for my conclusion I know that it is bullshit but I have a pretty conservative English teacher.
Here the Report:
Title Page:
The goal of this report is to give the reader a brief overview over the history of Hawaii. The report will start with the discovery of the islands by James Cook in 1778, continue with the Kamehameha dynasty and finally the process of Hawaii becoming the 50th state of the United States will be described. This report will provide the reader with sufficient information in order to understand the historical developments of Hawaii. Furthermore this knowledge can be used to have a better understanding for the current situation of Hawaii.
Introduction:
This report is based on information which was gathered through a research on the internet. Different websites were taken in account and compared with each other. The websites were evaluated concerning their reliability and finally the report was written based on the sources that were considered as reliable.
The discovery of Hawaii:
On January 18th 1778 James Cook land on the island Kauai and discovered the island group of Hawaii. In fact these islands were not known by the “civilized world” before. At this time the islands were separated and fought each other. Cook called them the “Sandwich Islands” in favor of one of his sponsors Lord Sandwich. Cook and his men also brought diseases to the islands which have not existed there before. This became a big problem for the native population due to the fact that their immune systems were not used to these diseases. Within the following eighty years the population dropped from 300.000 people to only 60.000.
The Kamehameha dynasty:
After James Cook was killed by the natives in February 1779 the islands were still separated and fought each other. King Kamehameha succeeded in establishing peace and uniting the islands in 1810. In fact King Kamehameha was a very foresighted leader who had extraordinary skills in establishing a state was well as in obtaining peace. He also developed friendships with other major pacific countries in order to ensure peace for his generation as well as for further ones.
Kamehameha established a number of new laws. The most important ones will be explained in the following:
The “Law of the Splintered Paddle”:
This law regulates the treatment of civilians during a war. It was signed into law in 1797.
The origins of this law derived from the time where the islands were separated and fought each other. The leg of Kamehameha was caught in the reef, and a fisherman hit him on the head with his paddle. However Kamehameha was able to escape. Years later, the same fisherman was brought before the king. Instead of sentencing him to death, Kamehameha claimed that the fisherman did the right thing, because he was only trying to protect his family. The original text of the law says:
“O my people honor thy god respect alike the rights of men great and humble, see to it that our aged ,our women, and our children lie down to sleep by the roadside without fear of harm. Disobey, and die. “
By reading this law one understands that the safety of civilians was very important to Kamehameha. The law also says that if someone is not willing to respect the rights of innocent civilians will be sentenced to death.
At this time this was a pretty modern way to deal with human rights, which is a reason why this law became a model for modern human right laws regarding the treatment of civilians.
King Kamehameha also established the “kapu” system of law. If you translate the word kapu into English, it means restricted. The “kapu” system of law governed the contact between men and woman. They were not allowed to have meals together. Furthermore pork, banana and coconuts were considered kaup to woman.
This law shows that Kamehameha had a quite conservative opinion regarding the rights of woman. In fact this law led to severe dissatisfaction. Especially the woman did not want to agree with it. However this law did not last very long due to the fact that Kamehameha II abolished it in 1819. He celebrated a feast where men and woman were eating the forbidden food together.
The end of the monarchy:
King Kamehameha V did not name his successor. Therefore an election had to be held to find his successor. King Lunalio won this election over the other candidate Kalakaua. After Lunalio died in 1874, an other election had to be held, which led to severe protests by the population, due to the fact that this election was fraudulent. In fact British and American soldiers had to land on the island in order to ensure peace. In 1887 a group of American and European businessmen as well as members of the Hawaian government forced the elected King Kalakua to sign the derisively nicknamed “Bayonet Constitution”. The most important article of the constitution is article 59. The content of this article describes who has the right to vote.
“ARTICLE 59.
Every male resident of the Hawaiian Islands of Hawaiian, American or European birth or descent, who shall have attained the age of twenty years, and shall have paid his taxes, and shall have caused his name to be entered on the list of voters for Nobles for his District, shall be an elector of Nobles, and shall be entitled to vote at any election of Nobles, provided:
• First: That he shall have resided in the country not less than three years, and in the district in which he offers to vote, not less than three months immediately preceding the election at which he offers to vote;
• Second: That he shall own and be possessed, in his own right, of taxable property in this country of the value of not less than three thousand dollars over and above all encumbrances, or shall have actually received an income of not less than six hundred dollars during the year next preceding his registration for such election;
• Third: That he shall be able to read and comprehend an ordinary newspaper printed in either the Hawaiian, English or some European language:
• Fourth: That he shall have taken an oath to support the Constitution and laws, such oath to be administered by any person authorized to administer oaths, or by an Inspector of Elections”
To conclude this article says that only wealthy people are allowed to vote. This is not suprising due to the fact that business men as well as other members of the government, who also were pretty rich forced the king to sign this constitution. It ensured that the interests of wealthy people were represented because only wealthy people were allowed to vote. Futhermore an other part of the constitution said that the king would lose the majority of his rights and that he would only remain a king with representative rights like the English Queen.
King Kalakua reigned until his death in 1891.
His sister, Liliuokalani, succeeded him to the throne and ruled until her overthrow in 1893.
Queen Lilikulani tried to abolish the “Bayonet Constitution” and draft a new constitution that would restore power to monarchy, however she did not suceed was overthrown. Source from Ameican websites say that British and American soldiers landed on the island in order to ensure peace and were neutral while a group of businessmen and politicians raised their weapons against the Queen. Other sources say that the soldiers also helped overthrowing Queen Lilikulani.
Nevertheless Queen Lilikulani was overthrown in January 1893 and the republic of Hawaii was founded. However this republic did not last very long because Hawaii was annexed by the United States on July 7th 1898, due to its stragetic importance during the war with Spain.
On June 27th 1959 a plecible was held asking the Hawaian citizens if they want to become the 50th state of the United States. Hawaii voted 17 to 1 to accept. On August 21 Hawaii became the 50th State of the USA.
Conclusion:
The history of Hawaii shows how a nearly undeveloped country managed to become a democraty. Of cource they were influened by other countries especially by the United States, but however a major war was not needed to establish a democraty. It was a process which was mainly lead and accepted by the polulation. I think that the United States should use the example of Hawaii in order to reconsieder their politics towards the middle east. Establishing a democracy is only possible if you have the power of the population behind you.
Recommendations:
Currently there are many people in Hawaii, who demand that Hawaii sould be seperated from the United States. In my opinion this is not a good idea because as I already mentioned the United States helped Hawaii with creating a democracy. Furthermore with the help of the United States Hawaii has more options in trading which also helps them creating wealth in the country. Most of the opponents of the United States are among the native population. They claim that their country has been taken away from them. One should not isolate these people but discuss with them and show them how much the United States has done for Hawaii and how the economic situation has improved.
I had to write a report about the history of Hawaii. I know my English skills are not that good thats why I want to post ist here. If someone has any recomendations please post them. I am sorry for my conclusion I know that it is bullshit but I have a pretty conservative English teacher.
Here the Report:
Title Page:
The goal of this report is to give the reader a brief overview over the history of Hawaii. The report will start with the discovery of the islands by James Cook in 1778, continue with the Kamehameha dynasty and finally the process of Hawaii becoming the 50th state of the United States will be described. This report will provide the reader with sufficient information in order to understand the historical developments of Hawaii. Furthermore this knowledge can be used to have a better understanding for the current situation of Hawaii.
Introduction:
This report is based on information which was gathered through a research on the internet. Different websites were taken in account and compared with each other. The websites were evaluated concerning their reliability and finally the report was written based on the sources that were considered as reliable.
The discovery of Hawaii:
On January 18th 1778 James Cook land on the island Kauai and discovered the island group of Hawaii. In fact these islands were not known by the “civilized world” before. At this time the islands were separated and fought each other. Cook called them the “Sandwich Islands” in favor of one of his sponsors Lord Sandwich. Cook and his men also brought diseases to the islands which have not existed there before. This became a big problem for the native population due to the fact that their immune systems were not used to these diseases. Within the following eighty years the population dropped from 300.000 people to only 60.000.
The Kamehameha dynasty:
After James Cook was killed by the natives in February 1779 the islands were still separated and fought each other. King Kamehameha succeeded in establishing peace and uniting the islands in 1810. In fact King Kamehameha was a very foresighted leader who had extraordinary skills in establishing a state was well as in obtaining peace. He also developed friendships with other major pacific countries in order to ensure peace for his generation as well as for further ones.
Kamehameha established a number of new laws. The most important ones will be explained in the following:
The “Law of the Splintered Paddle”:
This law regulates the treatment of civilians during a war. It was signed into law in 1797.
The origins of this law derived from the time where the islands were separated and fought each other. The leg of Kamehameha was caught in the reef, and a fisherman hit him on the head with his paddle. However Kamehameha was able to escape. Years later, the same fisherman was brought before the king. Instead of sentencing him to death, Kamehameha claimed that the fisherman did the right thing, because he was only trying to protect his family. The original text of the law says:
“O my people honor thy god respect alike the rights of men great and humble, see to it that our aged ,our women, and our children lie down to sleep by the roadside without fear of harm. Disobey, and die. “
By reading this law one understands that the safety of civilians was very important to Kamehameha. The law also says that if someone is not willing to respect the rights of innocent civilians will be sentenced to death.
At this time this was a pretty modern way to deal with human rights, which is a reason why this law became a model for modern human right laws regarding the treatment of civilians.
King Kamehameha also established the “kapu” system of law. If you translate the word kapu into English, it means restricted. The “kapu” system of law governed the contact between men and woman. They were not allowed to have meals together. Furthermore pork, banana and coconuts were considered kaup to woman.
This law shows that Kamehameha had a quite conservative opinion regarding the rights of woman. In fact this law led to severe dissatisfaction. Especially the woman did not want to agree with it. However this law did not last very long due to the fact that Kamehameha II abolished it in 1819. He celebrated a feast where men and woman were eating the forbidden food together.
The end of the monarchy:
King Kamehameha V did not name his successor. Therefore an election had to be held to find his successor. King Lunalio won this election over the other candidate Kalakaua. After Lunalio died in 1874, an other election had to be held, which led to severe protests by the population, due to the fact that this election was fraudulent. In fact British and American soldiers had to land on the island in order to ensure peace. In 1887 a group of American and European businessmen as well as members of the Hawaian government forced the elected King Kalakua to sign the derisively nicknamed “Bayonet Constitution”. The most important article of the constitution is article 59. The content of this article describes who has the right to vote.
“ARTICLE 59.
Every male resident of the Hawaiian Islands of Hawaiian, American or European birth or descent, who shall have attained the age of twenty years, and shall have paid his taxes, and shall have caused his name to be entered on the list of voters for Nobles for his District, shall be an elector of Nobles, and shall be entitled to vote at any election of Nobles, provided:
• First: That he shall have resided in the country not less than three years, and in the district in which he offers to vote, not less than three months immediately preceding the election at which he offers to vote;
• Second: That he shall own and be possessed, in his own right, of taxable property in this country of the value of not less than three thousand dollars over and above all encumbrances, or shall have actually received an income of not less than six hundred dollars during the year next preceding his registration for such election;
• Third: That he shall be able to read and comprehend an ordinary newspaper printed in either the Hawaiian, English or some European language:
• Fourth: That he shall have taken an oath to support the Constitution and laws, such oath to be administered by any person authorized to administer oaths, or by an Inspector of Elections”
To conclude this article says that only wealthy people are allowed to vote. This is not suprising due to the fact that business men as well as other members of the government, who also were pretty rich forced the king to sign this constitution. It ensured that the interests of wealthy people were represented because only wealthy people were allowed to vote. Futhermore an other part of the constitution said that the king would lose the majority of his rights and that he would only remain a king with representative rights like the English Queen.
King Kalakua reigned until his death in 1891.
His sister, Liliuokalani, succeeded him to the throne and ruled until her overthrow in 1893.
Queen Lilikulani tried to abolish the “Bayonet Constitution” and draft a new constitution that would restore power to monarchy, however she did not suceed was overthrown. Source from Ameican websites say that British and American soldiers landed on the island in order to ensure peace and were neutral while a group of businessmen and politicians raised their weapons against the Queen. Other sources say that the soldiers also helped overthrowing Queen Lilikulani.
Nevertheless Queen Lilikulani was overthrown in January 1893 and the republic of Hawaii was founded. However this republic did not last very long because Hawaii was annexed by the United States on July 7th 1898, due to its stragetic importance during the war with Spain.
On June 27th 1959 a plecible was held asking the Hawaian citizens if they want to become the 50th state of the United States. Hawaii voted 17 to 1 to accept. On August 21 Hawaii became the 50th State of the USA.
Conclusion:
The history of Hawaii shows how a nearly undeveloped country managed to become a democraty. Of cource they were influened by other countries especially by the United States, but however a major war was not needed to establish a democraty. It was a process which was mainly lead and accepted by the polulation. I think that the United States should use the example of Hawaii in order to reconsieder their politics towards the middle east. Establishing a democracy is only possible if you have the power of the population behind you.
Recommendations:
Currently there are many people in Hawaii, who demand that Hawaii sould be seperated from the United States. In my opinion this is not a good idea because as I already mentioned the United States helped Hawaii with creating a democracy. Furthermore with the help of the United States Hawaii has more options in trading which also helps them creating wealth in the country. Most of the opponents of the United States are among the native population. They claim that their country has been taken away from them. One should not isolate these people but discuss with them and show them how much the United States has done for Hawaii and how the economic situation has improved.