Examkin

Question

Difficulty: MediumImperialism and the Spanish-American War

Source: Queen Liliuokalani, letter of protest to the United States government, January 17, 1893.

"I, Liliuokalani... do hereby solemnly protest against any and all acts done against myself and the Constitutional Government of the Hawaiian Kingdom by certain persons claiming to have established a Provisional Government of and for this Kingdom. That I yield to the superior force of the United States of America whose Minister Plenipotentiary, His Excellency John L. Stevens, has caused United States troops to be landed at Honolulu... Now, to avoid any collision of armed forces, and perhaps the loss of life, I do this under protest, and impelled by said force yield my authority until such time as the Government of the United States shall, upon facts being presented to it, undo the action of its representatives and reinstate me in the authority which I claim as the Constitutional Sovereign of the Hawaiian Islands."

Which of the following historical developments during the late nineteenth century best explains the context of the protest described in the excerpt?

  1. The growth of American plantation interests in Hawaii that sought annexation to bypass tariff barriersAnswer
  2. B
    The immediate military mobilization of United States troops in response to the sinking of the USS Maine
  3. C
    An attempt by the United States to enforce the Monroe Doctrine by establishing a joint military alliance with European powers
  4. D
    The federal government's implementation of strict isolationist policies that banned American commercial shipping in the Pacific

Answer

The growth of American plantation interests in Hawaii that sought annexation to bypass tariff barriers
The correct option is correct because the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893 was largely driven by American sugar planters who wanted annexation to escape the high duties imposed by the McKinley Tariff of 1890, thereby securing their commercial interests.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the source to identify the author, date, and main argument of the protest.
The author is Queen Liliuokalani of Hawaii, writing in 1893 to protest the landing of US troops and the establishment of a provisional government.
This establishes the historical timeline and participants involved in the event.
2
Connect the event to broader late-nineteenth-century U.S. foreign policy and economic developments.
American plantation owners and corporate interests in Hawaii sought annexation to bypass the high sugar duties of the McKinley Tariff of 1890.
This links the local political overthrow to the economic motivations driving American expansionism.
3
Evaluate the choices to find the one that matches this historical context and rule out distractors that involve incorrect events or eras.
The option concerning American plantation interests seeking to bypass tariff barriers is correct. Options referencing the USS Maine (1898), joint European military alliances, or absolute isolationism are historically incorrect or out of chronological order.
This ensures the selected answer is historically accurate and directly addresses the question stem.

Key Concept

Imperialism and the Spanish-American War
Estimated Time:1m 30s
Rate this question

Topics

Imperialism and the Spanish-American War

More questions from this topic