Letter from King Kalākaua regarding the Reciprocity Treaty

Letter from King Kalākaua regarding the Reciprocity Treaty

Hawai’i
King Kalākaua
United States
Reciprocity Treaty
Monarchy
Economy
Westernisation
Annexation
Sugar crop

This is a handwritten letter by King Kalākaua to his ‘dear friend’, who seems to represent the United States. He writes to him regarding what would become the reciprocity treaty, and aims to attain a decision from the United States government. This letter is written in English therefore displaying the American influence on the Hawaiian people and the educational progression of the Hawaiian people. This letter was a part of several exchanges that eventual led to the Reciprocity Treaty which was a free trade agreement between the United States and Hawaii which mainly affected the sugar trade. This aided the Hawaiian export industry and improved the economy, however, some argue this was a factor that led to Hawaiian annexation. Therefore, this source represents the transformation of Hawaiian economy – development of the sugar trade, Westernisation and also relates to annexation.

King Kalākaua, Hawai’i

Hawaii Alive

http://www.hawaiialive.org/resources/manuscript/402.pdf

28 September 1872

Ameerah Abood

Bishop Museum Archives
September 20, 1872, MS Kapi’olani-Kalaniana’ole Collection Kalākaua 1.3.

English

Textual - handwritten document

19th century Hawai'i