Hawaiian Sovereignty: Paths to Self-Determination
Hawaiian Sovereignty: Paths to Self-Determination
For generations, the question of Hawaiian sovereignty has sparked passionate debate. The movement seeks various forms of self-determination for Native Hawaiians, addressing historical grievances stemming from the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1893. But what does sovereignty truly mean in the context of modern Hawai'i, and what are the most viable paths forward?
Historical Context: The Overthrow and Its Legacy
To understand the sovereignty movement, it’s crucial to acknowledge the past. The Hawaiian Kingdom, a recognized sovereign nation, was overthrown by a group of American businessmen and sugar planters, supported by U.S. Marines. Queen Liliʻuokalani, the last monarch, was forced to abdicate. This event, and the subsequent annexation of Hawaiʻi by the United States, remains a source of deep pain and fuels the desire for redress.
Models of Sovereignty: A Spectrum of Options
Discussions about Hawaiian sovereignty often involve several distinct models, each with its own implications:
- Sovereignty:
- The authority of a state to govern itself.
- Redress:
- To set right; remedy or rectify.
- Autonomy:
- Self-government; political control.
- grievances:
- Complaints or feelings of unfairness based on bad treatment in the past.
- abdicate:
- To give up a royal position or high power, such as a queen stepping down from her throne.
- annexation:
- The act of a country taking control of another territory and adding it to its own lands.
- incremental:
- Happening in small steps or stages over time rather than all at once.
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- 1What was the Hawaiian Kingdom before the overthrow?
- 2Who was Queen Liliʻuokalani?
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About this opinion / argumentative passage for Middle School
“Hawaiian Sovereignty: Paths to Self-Determination” is a opinion / argumentative reading passage about Hawaiian Sovereignty, written for Middle School. It takes about 4 minutes to read (531 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.