Hawaii_During

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 * During**



During the end of [|Benjamin Harrison’s] presidency, the issue of annexing Hawaii was a hot topic. The people that wanted annexation claimed that it would be good for the commerce, the Hawaiian people, and that it was part of [|Manifest Destiny]. Anti-annexationists argued that annexation went against some basic American traditions such as not interfering in other nation’s affairs and anti-imperialism. But overall, all Americans agreed that Hawaii should remain in America’s [|sphere of influence] no matter what.

When Harrison left the White House and [|Cleveland] stepped in, he gave the Hawaii issue some serious thought but he ended up rejecting the treaty and putting the issue rest. During the remainder of his first term and second, anti-annexationists had nothing to fear regarding the acquisition of Hawaii. But when President [|McKinley] took office the expansionists of his party convinced him to submit to Congress a treaty to annex Hawaii, only four months after his inauguration. Anti-annexationists tried their best to oppose the treaty, but as it became apparent that a World War was inevitable, the islands became an important military base for the United States in the Pacific Ocean.