Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Sophs- Hawaii's Last Queen



After watching the film, "Hawaii's Last Queen," you should have a better understanding of imperialism and the motives that cause strong nations to overpower weaker nations. You saw Queen Liliuokalini's unsuccessful struggle to keep her Hawaiian people independent of foreign rule. You witnessed her faith in the American government as she gave up her throne with optimistic thoughts that her power would be restored in the near future. As we know, this was not the case. Hawaii was annexed as an American territory in 1898 and eventually became the 50th state in 1959.

In your reflection of the film, give a response with a summary (paragraph length) describing how Americans gained political and economic power in Hawaii. Be sure to include specific details about the missionaries, Queen Liliuokalini's childhood, foreign influences on Hawaiian culture, etc. Use your video question sheet and answers to help with this paragraph.

In addition, write a short paragraph on the way the story was portrayed through the Queen's perspective. You often heard excerpts from her diary that described her thoughts and feelings. Was this an effective way to tell the story? Do you think the program tried to persuade viewers to sympathize with the Hawaiian queen and people? Be specific in your argument.

41 comments:

Kalla said...

Hawaii was its own country at one time. They had their own culture, language, religion, and even a flag. Their Queens name was Queen Liliokalani. She took over the throne after her brother had died from sickness. When she was a child she went to school in America. She knew English and the western cultures. She could also write in Hawaiian but with a western style. Now the US wanted rights to Pearl Harbor, and they wanted to annex Hawaii. They sent missionaries over to Hawaii to teach the royal family education and religion. When they were there they banned cultural things like the hula and nudity. Missionaries were now planning secretly to take over the queen. The queen was forced to stand down from her throne. 80% of the Hawaiian population died from smallpox and alcoholism after the Europeans began to come into their country. Queen Liliokalani was arrested for something that she didn't do and was imprisoned in the palace. In 1898 the US annexed Hawaii as their territory.

From the queens prospective it was a very sad and bad thing that happened to her country. She thought that it was a mistake and that they would eventually realize what they had done. Though they never did realize it I think that they showed that it was a mistake in her eyes. This was an effective way to tell the story because it showed that the country was under a lot of stress and that the US shouldn't have done what they did. The program tried to get viewers to feel sympathy for the Hawaiians by showing the Hawaiians crying and telling their stories.

Kalla said...

Hawaii was its own country at one time. They had their own culture, language, religion, and even a flag. Their Queens name was Queen Liliokalani. She took over the throne after her brother had died from sickness. When she was a child she went to school in America. She knew English and the western cultures. She could also write in Hawaiian but with a western style. Now the US wanted rights to Pearl Harbor, and they wanted to annex Hawaii. They sent missionaries over to Hawaii to teach the royal family education and religion. When they were there they banned cultural things like the hula and nudity. Missionaries were now planning secretly to take over the queen. The queen was forced to stand down from her throne. 80% of the Hawaiian population died from smallpox and alcoholism after the Europeans began to come into their country. Queen Liliokalani was arrested for something that she didn't do and was imprisoned in the palace. In 1898 the US annexed Hawaii as their territory.

From the queens prospective it was a very sad and bad thing that happened to her country. She thought that it was a mistake and that they would eventually realize what they had done. Though they never did realize it I think that they showed that it was a mistake in her eyes. This was an effective way to tell the story because it showed that the country was under a lot of stress and that the US shouldn't have done what they did. The program tried to get viewers to feel sympathy for the Hawaiians by showing the Hawaiians crying and telling their stories.

Gabrielle B. said...

During the time of Queen Liliuokalini's reign missionaries from American came over to Hawaii the spread Christianity. While they were there more and more American came over. Eventually, Queen Liliuokalini gave up her throne to about 162 American solders. America gained economic control because the sugar enter duty was free. That is one of the reasons why America wanted to own Hawaii, because of their sugar. Americans also wanted Hawaii because there were no other land around Hawaii. So, if Hawaii was part of America, America would almost have control over the Pacific Ocean and could then control the imports of sugar. Basically, it was a strategic location to be in charge of. When Queen Liliuokalini was born, a lot of Hawaiians thought of her as a god. They believed that she was related to the many gods the native Hawaiians believed in. Liliuokalini’s brother was ruling at the time and was killed because he didn't follow the Bayonet Constitution. This stated that the America had control over the ports at Pearl Harbor. That is when Liliuokalini became queen. After missionaries when over to Hawaii other American did too. The Americans created a school that would Americanize the native Hawaiians. The Queen was very Americanized herself. She could write and speak English, although she was Americanized she still stayed faithful to Hawaiian cultures.

The story was portrayed though the Queen’s perspective because there were a lot of quotes that came right from her own diary. Hearing parts of the Queen’s diary made it feel like she herself were telling the story. I think it was a very effective way to tell the story because when you heard what she was thinking during her reign you felt very sympathetic for her and the other native Hawaiian. This movie did a very good job persuading people to think about what America did to the Queen and the Hawaiians who lived there. When part of her diary were read you could she how worried or sad she was considering what was happening at the particular time. There were people that were native Hawaiians, Hawaii for a long time, or historians who studied the history of Hawaii making comments and telling facts at different parts of the movie too this had a big impact too because you could hear different points of view and what they though about what America did to Hawaii. After this film I felt very sympathetic for the Queen and her people.

natalie frappier. said...

America gained control of Hawaii by moving in and trying to annex it with their idea of "Manifest Destiny". Their way of doing this, was somewhat forcing the Hawaiians to learn American culture. Their Queen Lili, was very Americanized. However, she strongly disagreed with American's plan. Queen Lili tried to produce a Hawaiian constitution full of their own rights and declare them a separate and free nation. However, word of her plan got out and she was forced to resign from the throne. Queen Lili was arrested later on, as she hopes America would allow her the throne once more. That false hope gave courage that was needed, but did not succeed.

I think the way the story was portrayed was a great idea to help people understand better. When a story or book is being told and viewed from another person's eyes, you get a first hand account on their feelings and mental state throughout the whole deal. During this film, I did sympathize for the Hawaiians. However, I do not believe the story was trying to aim for that effect. The way America tended to handle that situation was wrong. Therefore, a sympathized affect was given from most viewers. Also, since the movie was being told straight from her diary, her feelings were not altered at all, they were told straight from the Queen. Since the time she inherited the throne was an extremely stressful and crucial time period, you could listen to her direct thoughts the whole time.

Donata G. said...

American influence in Hawaii first occured when the missionaries went over to Hawaii in 1778. They economically Hawaii by opening schools and teaching the royal families children how to speak and dress like an American. They banned the Hula and nudity. Also the towns in Hawaii started to trasnform into towns that looked like American cities. America also had alot of control on Hawaii's sugarcane.

America also changed Hawaii politically. America forced the King at gunpoint to sign the Bayonet Constitution that made the King a puppet to the United States, and also stated the Hawaiians couldnt vote. It also gave the U.S a port at Pearl Harbor. When Liliokalani became queen she wanted to to write a new constitution for her nation, she wanted to be able to select her own people office and do away with the bayonet constitution. Soon the U.S found out and sent marines over to Hawaii and pointed guns at the palace until she gave up her throne.

The way the the movie was portrayed through the queens prospective made you feel bad for the Hawaiians. It made America as a country look terrible. Through out the movie we would hear clips from her dairy stating the faith that she had in the U.S to give her, her throne back. I dont think this was a good way to show the annexation of Hawaii because it was only one side of the story. You only saw what was going on in Hawaii and not the U.S.

Brock L. said...

The Americans gained political power in Hawaii by having missionaries become part of there government. The missionaries which were there to spread christianity and gained the trust of Queen Liliuokalini. Also missionaries banned the Hula and public nudity. Missionaries set up schools for the Royal family where the Queen learned english and american culture. She ended up getting married to an american man who locked her away and never was with her in public. Foreign influences brought disease like small pox which the Hawiian's were not amune to. Queen Liliuokalini wanted to write a new constituion but her cabinet would not sign it. Next the American Marines surrounded her palace presuring her to resign which she did. She expected the Americans to give her the power back but they never did.

I think it was an effective way to tell the story because it shared the thoughts and feeling of the person the Americans were pressuring. I do believe the video was persuading viewers to feel sorry for the Hawaiians because they explained all the horrible things the Americans did to them. Also it told us that the americans were taking parts of their culture away saying if you were in there shoes how would you feel.

Victor Anderson said...

The Americans gained power in Hawaii by first sending missionaries. Missionaries taught the Hawaiians about their culture and helped them learn general knowledge. Eventually Americans became a part of everyday life. We would continue to take over their culture. An example would be our outlawing of their common nudity. We later entered Hawaii into our country, they were a good strategic gain and they're sugar was good for our economy.

I think that the way they presented this information was smart. By looking at the situation through Queen Liliuokalani's eyes you feel sympathy for her and her people. You see there opinions. Looking at the situation this way doesn't show bias to the invading country so it would seem that they weren't at fault.

daniel downes said...

The Americans gained political and economic power in Hawaii in many ways. It all started when the missionaries came to Hawaii to spread christianity. The missionaries, in a way, just took over. they taught the Hawaiians how to read and write english. On top of that they banded the hula and nudity. Then soon enough America saw this land as an oppurtunity. The wealthy farmers came over and started harvestin sugar cane to make a profit. The Americans made it so none of the Hawaiian cheifs could have role in the government and the missionaries became part of the government. Liluokalini was influenced by all of this as a little girl growing up. the way she dressed and the way she spoke was different.
i think that telling the story through the queens point of view was a great way to portray the events. Showing the story through the queens point of view was an unbiased way to say what happened because she was sincere and honest in her diary. the queen was truly heartbroken by the Americans taking over her land. i dont think the program tried to persuade viewers to have sympathy for hawaiian people and queen because they told what the Americans thought about it and how the Hawaiians thought about it. the program was simply just telling the story how it really happened

Lauren Talley said...

The Americans did alot of stuff in hawaii that led to taking over the government. At first, the U.S sent over missionaries to help the hawaiians and to open schools. The royal child attended the schools and learned alot. Even the Queen attened one of these schools. The missionaires open medical places and turned Hawaii into what looked like San Fran. They even banned the Hula and one of Hawaii's cultural things, being naked. Liliuokalini had alot of faith in the Americans and was very simple. She even married an American! After the queen got kicked out of her throne, she kept people from revolting. She said she didn't want blood on her conscience. but her brother on the other hand was the opposite. He was very extravagant. He bought a light system that cost as much as the whole palace did! Hawaii prospered in the sugar business. Once the Americans realized this, they lowered the Hawaiian flag and took over. The U.S sent a representative down to investigate. After a long long investitagtion he came to the conlusion that the queen should be put back into power. He raised the Hawaiian flag once again. But the U.S ignored the report and annexed Hawaii in 1898.
I think that portraying this in the Queen's view did make you feel bad to the Hawaiian people. Opposed to the textbook version. You felt what the Hawaiians did. I completely disagreed with what the U.S did. The Queen was so faithful the U.S and what she got in return was being prisioned in the palace. I think this was a very effective way to tell the story because i fully understand it now. The Hawaiians went through so many hardships that i never learned about until the movie. Yes i think it was trying to persade the viewers to sympathize for the Hawaiians but not in a way that didn't let you decide how to feel. It showed all the emtions and how are the people stuggled just trying to live the way they wanted in their native land.

Ashley Szumowski said...

The Americans gained political and economic power in Hawaii because the king had foreign advisors and was forced to sign the Bayonette Constitution. Missionaries werer portrayed by bringing education and Christianity. They also taught royal families, the grandchildren were the ones who over-threw the queen. The causes of the change in culture were the missionaries, small pox, 80% of population died because of disease, and also the consumption of alcohol. Liliuokalani knew english and the western culture, went to missionary school, married an american and still wanted to maintain Hawiian culture independence.
I don't think this was an effective way to tell the story because it's quite biased. You only getto hear her side and not america's. Yeah, I do think the movie tried to get people to feel bad for her saying how she appreciated anything that happened.

Mark Lizza said...

1) Hawaii peaked interest of the United States for a few reasons. One, the interest in a naval port (Pearl Harbor) and two, sugarcane. American missionaries first came over to spread christianity to the Hawaii people. These missionaries slowly gained control of political and economic power by having more and more Americans pop up. Having missionary boys also spread the population of Americans. Queen Liliuokalini was actually taught by Americans in school. It was considered a privelege and she learned many languages and was well educated. She welcomed everyone and was overall a peaceful woman. Once Americans took over they started to ban things like nudity and the hula dance. This is a vital part of Hawaiin's culture. It is notable that not one time through out all this tension was one drop of blood shed.

Through the Queen's eyes, she believed the United States would eventually restore her power. In the program it portrayed the Queen to be simpathetic toward the missionaries while the film made them seem like the bad guys. They didn't have many positive things to say about the missionaries and heard what other people thought about it also agreeing.

Randy Husbands said...

"Hawaii's Last Queen", is an important film that helps to explain how the US got Hawaii. Many people dont realize that the United States was pretty harsh and cruel in trying to get this land. America wanted Hawaii because of economic and political reasons. One economic reason was that they could use Hawaii for their sugar plantations, which would make sugar and important good to trade and sell. One political reason why the US wanted Hawaii, was because this would make the country more powerful, and they could get to other countries faster and easier like China for example. At the time, Hawaii was ruled by a king named Kalakaua. In 1887, the king of Hawaii was stripped from most of his power, because the United States made him sign the Bayonet Constitution. The Bayonet Constitution basically said that Hawaiian people were excluded from voting for a property qualification, but rich white people were allowed to vote for this. The reason it was called the Bayonet Constitution was because a bayonet represents a gun with a sharp blade at the tip, so the US was trying to say this was signed under a threat of violence. Also, the Bayonet Constitution was important to the US, because they wanted rights to Pearl Harbor. After this, King Kalakaua would reign until his death. After he died, his siter became the queen and her name was Liliuokalani. She was a very important person of Hawaii at that time because she also knew american cultures. She went to a missionary school, she knew english, and she married an American. She was different then her brother because her brother was very extravagant, but she was not like that at all. After Liliuokalani became Queen, missionaries were brought over from the US. They brought education and schools and they grand children through the queen. The missionaries mainly brought bad things, such as: small pox and diseases. Diseases at this time caused about 80 percent of the population to die. Also, alcoholism was a big change in Hawaii's culture. Now people apart of the US government had a plan to try and overthrow the Queen, which they did. Queen Liliuokalani thought that she would be granted power after stepping down, but that didn't appear to be the case. After this happened, some Hawaiin people hurt their country by nationalism. Nationalism was beneficial economically, but it was dangerous because it makes people do voluntarily mean actions. The Hawaiian people decided that they wanted to overthrow the US government with guns. When the US government found out, they arrested Queen Liliuokalani and said that she new the conspiracy to overthrow the governmnet. Really though the queen had no part of it. She was confined in one of the rooms in her old palace that the government took over. After being there for a certain amount of years, she was released and free to go live her life. Now people relized that Hawaii was taken away from them after American flags were put up around the queens old palace.


I thought that the way the queen told her story was interesting, because it showed how imperialism was used and is still being used today. I thought that the way the queen told her story was important, because she helped expplain what she was going through after she was arrested and when she was overpowered by the US goverment. I thought that the program was trying to persuad viewers to sympathize for the Hawaiin queen and people, because the US basically took Hawaii from the queen and its people. The government gave the Hawaiian flag to the people in pieces, basically to rub it into their faces that we took Hawaii from them. In conclusion, i think what America did was wrong, becaus e it wasn't our land to begin with, and that if we wanted that land we could have come to some sort of agreement or treaty.

Reid White said...

The Americans held the Queen at gun point. They forced her out of the throne. She was sure that she would regain her position as queen eventually but, it never happened. The people that threw her out of her power were her own missionaries. As a child her brother was the king. The Queen wanted to make a new constitution, called the Bayonet constitution. She also wanted to preserve the Hawaii religion.

The queen would often write diary entrees. She would say that one day she would return to the throne. She would also talk about her husband. This was a good way to portray the story because, it let the viewers know what was going through her head.

alexa aikens said...

Queen Liliuokalani became known as Hawaii's last monarch after her brother king kala died.She lead for about 2 years until a group lef by Sanford Dole overthrew her reign. They also took control over Lolani Palace and other goverment buildings.Sanford Dole became first president of Hawaii in 1894. in 1895 she was arrested for having weapons and in 1896 she had been released because they found out who the really people were who had the weapons, but sanford dole granted them a pardon. She lived remainder of her life in washington palace.
I personally think the way we over threw the rule of queen liliuokalani was wrong in many ways. I think by hearing what she had to say in her diary made us have sympothy for the hawaiians and how they felt betrayed. It was wrong but in some ways we were trying to help them out.

Paul T said...

Americans gained political and economic power in Hawaii by the missionaries taking over the Hawaiians culture. They did this by banning the hula, nudity, and brought Christianity over to the territory. Also, missionaries became part of the Hawaiian government, they wrote the Bayonet Constitution, and created the U.S. port at Pearl Harbor. Queen Liliuokalani had an effect on the change of the territory because she favored the Americans because she went to American schools, dressed and spoke American, and she married an American man. Lastly, after her brother took over reign he favored the Americans and the British because he had a palace built like in Britain and the lighting system cost just as much as the palace itself. Her brother was very extravagant where Queen Liliuokalani was not.

Throughout the movie the Queen had a diary that they read a few excerpts from it. It was wrong for the Americans to take over Hawaii because by taking over the territory the native Hawaiians died because of diseases from the Americans and their land was taken over. Also, the Americans acted as if there was no one ever living on the land when they arrived, they just took over all the land and families of Hawaiians separated or died because of this. I think it was an effective way for the story to be told this way through the Queens perspective because by reading her diary you get the full effect of what happened and her thoughts on what the Americans did as her being Queen at the time, until she was forced to step down. Lastly, the Americans taking over Hawaii was not necessarily wrong to do, they should have just done it in a way that the native Hawaiians could have a say in the situation but instead they had no say.

Joey Giannaras said...

Before Hawaii is what it is now Hawaii was an independent country. The last queen of Hawaii was named queen Liliuokalini. The queen was removed from the throne in 1891. Liliuokalini tried to make a new constitution that would restore power to the natives of Hawaii. This power was being destroyed by the success of white American business owners. These business owners were there to get the sugar cane that Hawaii provided. Shortly into her reign as queen the U.S. removed the importation of sugar into the U.S. and Hawaii faced an economic collapse. The sugar growers were convinced that the only way to not go out of business was annexation to the United States. Eventually, Lili'uokalani would lose her throne at gunpoint. Hawaii was finally recognized as part of the United States by President William McKinley in 1898.

In the movie they portrayed the queen as somebody who had no say in what was happening and that U.S. took over Hawaii by force. The movie had a couple of quotes that the queen said while this was happening. The quotes were her saying stuff about giving up the throne and what exactly she said when she was held up at gunpoint to stand down and give up the throne. Some of them were her saying that she doesn’t want the natives to rebel. I believe that the movie was trying to make people feel like the U.S. took Hawaii over by force and nobody had any say with what the U.S. did at the time.

Danny Castaneda said...

The history of Hawaii and the American government were very bad times for the hawaiin people. Queen Liliuokalini tried to stay queen so Hawaii could keep its customs and traditions. But When the U.S. came to Hawaii they overpowered it and took control of it. This is called imperialism. The Americans brought soldiers to the the Queen's house and made her give up her throne. Hawaii had no chance against them so she had to give it up. After that Hawaii was humanized by the U.S and the queen never again had any control of Hawaii and all she had was the regular rights of what a normal citizen would have.


I think that the Americans made a wrong choice to go and take over Hawaii. The Hawaiins were fine with their queen. If I were to be in Queen Liliuokalini's shoes i would of felt dissappointed in the American Government. They destroyed the Hawaiins by takin control of it and also many Hawaiins died from people coming to their country. The disease that killed most of the Hawaiins was the small pox. This would of never of happened if the U.S. didnt show up at Hawaii. Hawaii would of been better without us being their government.

emily orzada said...

The U.S. was able to gain political power in Hawaii by, the U.S and Hawaii made a treaty that allowed Hawaiian sugar to be sold with out tax in the U.S. Hawaii also leased Pearl Harbor to the U.S. as a fueling and repair station for the navy. Then white Hawaiian born planters forced the king Kalakaua to accept a new constitution that gave them control of the government. In 1820, missionaries from America came to Hawaii. they set up operations on Maui and Oahu. The skimpy clothing, hula dances disturbed them and they saw the Hawaiians as savages. As a child, Queen Liliuokalani went to school at the Royal School and became fluent in English. She was a member of Kawaiahao Church that was built by Hiram Bingham and his group. He was the leader of the first group of missionaries to Hawaii in 1820. Although she was deeply rooted in Hawaiian tradition the queen visited the white house and visited European royalty. But as the American business community in Hawaii grew stronger, Liliuokalani found herself trapped between the two cultures and slowly let her Hawaiian culture go away. The Americans had a very big influence on the Hawaiians, they built churches and schools and made the royalty atttend the schools so they could be taught English and so they would be "Americanized".

Logan Worsh said...

Americans first started gaining their power in Hawaii when the first missionaries went there and opened schools. The students there were all descendants of the seven royal families and therefor the teachers grew a trust with the families and the students. When those kids grew up they put the missionary families in their government cabinet. Even the queen went to this school. So, in turn, she was very used to american culture and life styles. She too trusted them and put them in her cabinet.

This story was portrayed by the queen herself narrating it with her own diary entries. I do think the program tried to persuade viewers a bit but what America was doing wasn't right. We basically took over their country without them even realizing it. I feel like this was an effective way to tell the story because it showed a lot of detail in a mostly non-biased way.

Jackie Cole said...

America gained control over Hawaii by introducing it to western culutre and slowly taking over and dethroning the last Queen, Liliuokalini. The missioneres first came to spread hristianty the the native people but it didnt stop there. The took in some children back to America to be educated in western culture, religion, and the language. Liliuokalini was one of the children that were taken to America. She was well educated and even ended up marrying an American man. Hawaii was a leading provider of sugar to the U.S. and that is another way America gained control. they started taking over the industry and bringing in Chinese immigrants to work the fields. America eventually dethroned the Queen and later Annexed Hawaii and the became America's 50th state.

With the video being porrayed in the view of the Queen i think we only get to hear one side of the story, yes it is about Hawaii but i think we should hear both sides of the story in a way to get different oppinions. The program did presuaded many viewers the sympathize for the Hawaiians. The program showed the struggle they went through to try and stay an independent nation which didn't really work out.

Gianna V. (blue) said...

In my opinion, the queen should have kept her position. I think it was wrong to take her throne away. If it was me, i would have waited till she died so that the hawaian people could adapt to the world with no monarchy. If they did revoke her, they should have giver her aq great power in hawaii, not just treat her like a normal human

in her opinion it may have went a little something like this...


why are they taking away the only thing i know? i guide the hawaian people. Taking away my rights is just wrong and i am apauled. I will not let harm come to my peopole so therefor i will revoke my throne

Zhalen G. said...

Americans gained political and economic power in Hawaii by sending missionaries overseas to teach or westernize Hawaiian people. When the missionaries came to hawaii the set up schools that taught only the royal families' children. When Queen Liliuokalini was a child she was taught the American way along with traveling to the White House to visit the president. Queen Liliuokalini lived as an american such as composing her music in english. Queen Liliuokalini believed that the american way was great but it was also necessary to keep old traditions. As time passed America became more anxious about gaining Hawaii as an economic influence because it harvests the crop sugar.
The story was portrayed through the Queen's perspective in a way that made the queen seem very optimistic about the reason why America made her step down from her throne. She wrote in her diary that it was just a big misunderstanding and that America will realize the mistake and restore her to power. This was an effective way to tell the story because it shows both sides views of the takeover. I do believe that the program persuades viewers to sympathize with the queen because the way we took over Hawaii was a bad way to handle foreign .

Anthony Jezyk said...

In Hawaii, missionaries from America wanted to spread the faith of Christianity in early 1800's. After America been in Hawaii, they realized that it is a great place for economic and political reasons mostly because of it's location and the sugar fields. With the sugar fields, America got involved with the trading process and traded with Hawaii. America set up school's for child from wealthy families so they can get the chance to learn English. Queen Liliuokalini was one of the few that was allowed to go to the school. Queen Liliuokalini's brother got involved with America and signed the Bayonet Constitution which took away most of his powers and the main reason the family throne was eventually destroyed.

This was an effective way to tell the story because in the film, it showed Hawaii just being overrun by America and the royal throne abolished in their nation. Also, it said that all ancient Hawaiian language was no longer allowed to be used in the nation because of America running Hawaii. This program tried to persuade the viewers to sympathize with the Hawaiian queen and people because they can't do anything to change the outcome of their future. It shows that the Queen did not want any fighting to take place when U.S. soldiers lined up around the family palace until Queen Liliuokalini gave up the throne and surrendered.

Sean Baker said...

In the film, they showed how the AMericans basically too Hawaii by force, stripping the queen of all her economical power. It all started when the American missionaries came to Hawaii to spread American education and christianity. They taught the seven royal families all about christianity, english, basically how to be American, and they all accepted it. The missionaries then started taking over political and economical power during the king's rule. The king had many foriegn advisors, who happen to be the children and grandchildren of the early missionaries. One night, they held the king at gun point, forcing him to sign what was called the bayonet constitution, which stripped the king's monarchy of much of it's power and giiving it to the Americans. After the king had died, his sister took the throne, Queen Liliuokalini. The queen had grown up knowing english, christianity, and other American traits, which were taught to her by the missionaries. After she had taken the throne, she had continually worked at regaing Hawaiin independance by eliminating the bayonet constitution and making a new one, giving her back all her power. One of the problems that prevented her constitution from happening was her cabinet, instead of agreeing with her they had told her it was a bad idea, they had betrayed her. A group of rebels tried to fight back for Hawaiin independance but were caught and the queen was put in prison for knowing about the whole thing, which she didnt. After she was released she was stripped of all her power, was put under house arrest, and was made an American citizen. Hawaii was then made a state of the U.S. a couple years later and Queen Liliuokalini died an american citizen.

Hearing the whole story through the Queen's perspective, gave the us the truths behind what had really happened in Hawaii. The queens view shows us how brutal and forceful the americans were about the Hawaiin government and controlling it. They had put both the king and queen up at gunpoint trying to force them to give up their power. And it is sad how they just took everything away from the queen, even though she didnt do anything, just try to get back her country's independance and go back to the way they were. James Blunt even told the Americans in his report that they should give the power back to the queen, but they had rejected that and kept the power. i think the way the film had used excerpts from her diary made everyone feel sympathy for the Hawaiins and theyre queen who was forced out of her heir by the americans who were just eager to expand and becaome a dominant country.

nickm said...

Americans gained political repect by taking over Hawaii is more land. Since they did take over Hawaii they have more land to do whatever they wanted. Americans were very happy about this, this is what gave them the 50th state.

In the Queens eyes she should be a little mad but yet she was waiting them to change their minds and turn into good people, which it was never going to happen. She was in a depressed state with all the hawaiin people.

Niki Lemper said...

Americans gained political and economic power in Hawaii by missionaries coming to Hawaii to spread Chrisitanity. The missionaries also taught the royal families American customs and the language. The missionairies noticed how great the sugar plantations would be for American trading, so they stayed in Hawaii for the sugar plantation. Liluokalini and her brother were taught by theese missionaries as they were growing up. Liliuokalini's brother, who was King, had forign advisors from China and Japan, so Liluokalini learned many things from Asian customs. Americans didn't like the foriegn policies, and forced the King to sign a "bayonet constitution". After the king died his sister Liluokalini took over as queen with most of the same foriegn policies. The Americans forced her out of her house by gunpoint. Not wanting anyone to die because of her, she surrendered Hawaii to the United States of American in hope that they would let her return to be Queen again.

The story through the Queen's eyes seemed a lot more sad. Many of her thoughts were straight from her heart and how she felt at the time of being forced to turn Hawaii over at gunpoint. I think it waas an effective way to tell the story because as a student who doesn't know what it feels like to be forced out of my own land. I think it wasn't trying to make us sympathize with the Hawaiians, but only to inform us in the way how everyone felt at the time.

Anonymous said...

Ashley McKenzie

In my opinion, I think Americans gained political and economic power in Hawaii by writing to Pearl Harbor. The king has foregin advisers. Queen Liliuokalini went to a missionary school. She was well versed in western culture. Even though she wrote hawaiian style, she married an American. She knew English, but she wanted to maintain western hawaiian independence and identity.


The way the story was portrayed through the Queens perspective was, She struggled quite a bit. She tryed very hard to maintain hawaiian independence and identity but her brother got in her way. Missionaries were portrayed in the program because education and christianity set up schools, and banned nudity. Missionaries brought small poz and disease to Hawaii which caused 80% of Hawaiians to die from this aswell as Alcoholism. It was a very hard time for the Queen and she expressed how she felt through her diary and to her people by trying to keep her country independent. The Americans overpowered her though.

Eddie Mendez said...

American Missianaries were going around the world spreading their religion. They found that Hawaii had good sugar plantations and thought they could be useful to the United States. Hawaii and the U.S. renewed a trade treaty that allowed Hawaiian sugar to be sold duty-free in the United States. They gained political power by forcing the king that restricted the powers of the monarchy. It's the missianaries grandchildren that will one day overthrow Queen Liliuokalani. Quenn was born on September 2, 1838. She received her education at the Royal School and became fluent in English. She was also a member of Kawaiahao Church, which was one of the 1st built by the missionaries in Hawaii.
The story was portrayed throught Queen's eyes. It makes you feel bad for Hawaii and the struggles they went through. I think using excerpts from the Queen's diary was an effective way because it showed you what she was really thinking and how she was exactly feeling each moment. I think the program tried to persuade viewers to sympathize with the Queen and her people. I think so because they were only saying the struggles Hawaii had to go through. They also portrayed the U.S. as a very dominate n mean country.

maggie G said...

United States missionaries became part of the Hawaiin government. This means that the U.S was on a path of eventually being able to gain more and more power over Hawaii. During this time, 80% of Hawaiins culture died as a result of smallpox. Queen Liliuokalani went to American schools and could speak and dress American as well. The Queen also married an American man. On the other hand, Queen Liliuokalani knew her cultures chants and also tried to keep Hawaiian culture.

In this video, I think Queen Liliuokalani wanted people to see the sympathy shown for Hawaii. In this video, we heard mostly the Hawaiians side of the story. Queen Liliuokalani kept a journal that she would write in every day which added to the Hawaiian side of the story and showed the agony that they went through.

jenna wolff ..green said...

Americans gained political and economic power in Hawaii in many different ways. The missionaries became part of the government and the Bayonet Constitution was established which effected who could vote. The U.S had a port at Pearl Harbor and there were no votes for Hawaiians. The missionaries banned the Hula, banned nudity, and were overthrown by their grandchildren. Liliuokalani had both values influenced by Hawaiian and American cultures. In the Hawaiian culture, she knew the music, chants, language, and she wanted to maintain the culture. For the American culture, she dressed that way, spoke the language, and married an American man. The changes in Hawaiian culture were influenced greatly due to reading and writing, missionaries, and small pox.

I do not think that Queen Liliuokalini’s life story was told very effectively. The story was portrayed to sympathize the audience for her. It talked about how she married an American and how they never saw each other. Her brother was very rich and brought back the hula to the society. He was talked upon too much of his richness because the film said that the lights cost more then his palace did. In her diaries, she talked about how Americans were going to put her back in power. The Queen knew the right thing to do was to step down from being queen. She thought America would do the right thing and set her back as the queen but they never did. She thought her mission was to save the islands from their native residents. When U.S annexed Hawaii, she was forced to give up her throne.

John S. said...

Queen Liliuokalani was born on September 2, 1838 in Honolulu. She was born to High Chiefess Keohokālole and High Chief Kapaakea. Her brother was future King Kalakaua, from whom she would eventually inherit the throne as Queen. She married John Owen Daniels, an American man, in September 1862. When her brother became king in 1874, she became Princess, a role she held until 17 years later, when her brother passed away. Immediately, she was named Queen of the Hawaiian Islands, with her husband becoming Prince. He died in August 1891, leaving her a widow. To contrast her brother's style as a monarch, Liliuokalani was not a lavish Queen. She did not spend lots of money, but she was very well educated in American and Western culture. She met with the President and other world leaders. Her short reign as Queen came to an end in January 1893, when Hawaii was annexed and became an American territory. She was removed from the throne, although she was convinced she'd get it back someday. Two years later, in 1895, Liliuokalani was jailed on false charges that she was behind a group that wanted the old Hawaiian regime in charge. She served many months in prison and was eventually released. Upon her release, she slowly had to regain her rights as an American citizen. She retired to her private home, at Washington Place in Honolulu, where she spent the bulk of her days until she died on November 11, 1917, at the age of 79.

The story was perceived by the Queen as being unfair. The Queen was convinced that she was a fair ruler, and wanted to stay in power and rule Hawaii further. In fact, she thought she would regain the throne again, but as time would tell, that would not be the case. She was, however, a woman who wanted to document her life: she made a quilt while in prison which documented her entire life up to the year it was made. So, in the Queen's eyes, she was a fit ruler who was more than worthy to be a leader of the people of Hawaii.

Abby M said...

The first Americans to go to Hawaii were the missionaries. They set up schools and churches for the children. These schools taught them English. One of the children who attended this school was Queen Liliuokalani. She learned the English language. She also developed a trust with the American people. However, the American people gained power over the Hawaiians. We banned the Hula dance and nudity. Hawaii attempted to fight back, but we held their Queen at gunpoint and forced her to surrender her throne.


This story was written down as part of the Queen's diary. This told us what her emotions were on the subject of being Queen and all the responsibilities that go with it. I think it was an effective way to tell the story because it allowed us to hear every detail of what happened through someone who lived it. I think the program was bi-est because it made you sympathize for the Hawaiian people and made the Americans look like dictators.

jill radka said...

Growing up, Queen Liliuokalani learned English at an early age. She was very "Americanized" and eventually married a white missionary that travelled to Hawaii to spread Christianity. She also attended various dinners held in the White House. In 1893, Queen Liliuokalani was forced out of power and surrendered her kingdom to the United States under protest.Hawaii was the perfect port in the Pacific Ocean because it played as a bridge between the United States and Asia. Also, there was a surplus of sugar cane. The sugar planters overthrew the Queen and set up the Republic of Hawaii in order to protect their own property and political rights.In 1898, Hawaii was annexed to the United States and within 2 years it became United States territory.Finally, in 1959, Hawaii became the 50th state.

Yes, it was an effective way of telling the story because it is a personal look on how things happened. Her diary excerpts was a reliable source because out of everyone, the Queen knew first hand how she was overthrown. I personally sympathize the Queen and the Hawaiians because we really did just force her out of power and I wouldn't like if another, stronger country took over the U.S. All the Queen wanted was to keep Hawaii a single seperate nation with it's own traditions and we didn't really care and just took it.

Courtney Manley said...

America has gained political and economical of Hawaii because of the king had foreign advisers. The Bayonett Constitution stripped the monarchy from the throne. The missionaries that were brought to Hawaii taught education, christianity, and culture. Queen Liliokalani married a missionary. Liliokalani's identity and values were influencd by Hawaiian and American cultures because she wrote poems and stories in Hawaiian and western style.

Queen Liliokalani portrayed most of her thoughts and feelings through writing. I think this is a good way to express how she felt and for us as American's to understand. I definitely think her poems and writings were meant to sympathize herself and the people. Before she died, she made a quilt that explained her life and I think that shows her patriotism and her love for Hawaii.

joey w. said...

Hawaii's culture was first distorted when missionaries came and taught christianity. They banned their native hula dance and nudity. The missionaries offspring later too over much control of the sugar plantations and started wanting to control the government their way. They made Hawaii's king sign a new constitution at gun point which is also an injustice. After the king died the whites overtook the palace and took down the Hawaii flag. James Blunt was sent from the US to spy on events unfolding in Hawaii and report back to the president. He wrote a 2000 page report on the injustice, in repose the president ordered Hawaii be returned to its former monarchy the Queen. The americans in Hawaii did not listen to the president for they had their own agenda. In this time the Queen could of wared for he rightful place but she would not allow a friends or foes blood be on her soul. She died believing the US would restore the former Hawaii she knew and ran.

The story was told in favor of the Hawaiian people. Which could unfair form your view of what happened in Hawaii. However, I still believe people of a native land should have say before anyone of how things should be on their land.

JON BLYTHE said...

America gained political and economic power by acquiring Hawaii it was a new addition to the 50 states and it was a new place for America to store its navy. The queen of Hawaii tried to keep Hawaii in its original state but she was overrun by Americans that forced her to sign a document to give control to the Americans. Hawaii's culture changed significantly because new laws were enforced. They were made to follow the American way and abandon their Hawaiian way of life.
The Queen of Hawaii was brought out of power when the Americans arrived and she assured herself and her people that the Americans would do the right thing and they would bring her back into power after they had left Hawaii. But the American's did not and the Queen still had respect for them and was taken down from the throne. It was an effective way to tell the story because it told what was going on from her own perspective. It did try to make people sympathize for them because it made it seem like Americans came and overwhelmed the Hawaiians and took their land without their consent.

Drew Adami said...

Americans gained political and economic control of Hawaii by having a US port at Pearl Harbor and the Hawaii relied on foreign advisors. Missionaries played a big part because they spread Christianity and banned hula and nudity. Also they had Christian schools and churches. Even the Queen herself was very Americanized that she went to American schools growing up, she dress and spoke American, and her husband was an American. Eventually Americans forced her to sign a treaty giving up her throne but she was very optimistic about it even though she should not have been because she was thrown in jail later.

I enjoyed the way that the film used excerpts from the Queen’s diary because it’s good knowing the way that she thought about the whole situation. I also think that the film was trying to make feel sympathetic for the Queen because she wasn’t a bad Queen or a bad person, or the film did not portray her in such a way and when you read her diary she did not feel much hate towards the Americans and she thought that she would get a job back.

Rachel Warrington said...

Americans gained economic power by the missionaries taking over Hawaii. They set up schools and churches for the Hawaiian people. Liliuokalini trusted the Americans very much. She went to American schools and learned American culture and language. She had a huge respect for the Americans, but they disappointed her by the time her reign came to an abrupt end. Liliuokalini was also married to an American, he had a great amount of foreign influence on her. The Americans pretty much ruined the Hawaiian culture.
The Queen's perspective during the story was very optimistic until the end. She trusted the Americans so much that she believed they would restore her power. I think that her diary persuaded people to sympathize for herself and the hawaiian people. It was so awful that she trusted so much in the Americans but they never put her back into power. She was very disappointed and hurt. She was also jailed for something she didn't even do. Her story makes you feel terrible about what America did to the Hawaiians. They took away their culture and their own queen.

E.Nowell said...

Hawaii and the US had a trade treaty that allowed Hawaiian sugar to be sold to the US. Queen Liliuokalani opossed US control of the islands. She wanted to decrease the power of foreign merchants by returning voting rights to Hawaiians. She was strongly against the influence of Americans. The Queen wanted to maintaine the independence of the kingdom. She came forth with a new constitution, trying to establish the monarchy and protect the native culture. The Americans sent Liliuokalani into exile. She gave up her throne to protect her people. Hawaii become Americas property.

Yes this was an effective way to tell the story of the Queen and about the history of the Hawaiian people. the program persuaded the viewers to sympathize with the Hawaiian queen and the people. The program was very good with all the details about the Queen and how strongly she felt about everthing.

Kelsey Griffin said...

Kelsey Griffin

In 1898 Hawaii was forcibly annexed by the decedents of missionaries and wealthy sugar cane plantation owners, many of whom were both. Several years earlier Christan missionaries to convert the native Hawaiians, during this time the started schools to teach English and western customs. All the royal families of the Islands sent there children to be educated their. One of thous children was Liliʻuokalani who would be later become the queen after her brother, the king, died. While in power her brother was forced to sign the "Bayonet Constitution" which stripped the monarch of their power and prevented most Hawaiians from voting. later Queen Liliʻuokalani announced plans for a new constitution to her cabinet. A group of American planters and residents formed a Committee of Safety with the goal to overthrow the Kingdom and seek annexation by the United States. The commander of a U.S. warship parked in Pearl Harbor responded by sending a company of U.S. Marines to add the Committee of Safeties efforts. The Queen's cabinet would not approve the new constitution and she was first to back down. Later she was removed from government after being charged with treason because of accused involvement with a attempted revolt by the palace guard. After a extensive investigation which came out favoring the Hawaiians Hawaii was annexed.

I found that the documentaries' use of the Queen's perspective was very effective at getting the viewers to sympathize with the Hawaiians plight. I very much arge with its negative portrail of Americans despite the non-objective approach. Even with out the personal stories of the Hawaiians it is very clear what was done by the annexationist was very wrong and the U.S' lack of response was equialy to blame.

Anuvrat Sheoran said...

The American government had send some missionaries to Hawaii to spread Christianity to all over the world. Those missionaries taught the Hawaiians the American culture, religion and language .Whereas the grandchildren of the missionaries opened sugar mills and gained political power over hawaii's government
Yes I think that this was an effective way to tell the story of the last queen of hawaii as it showed the problems the Hawaiian people had to face in their own country.