Karakava's Political Initiative

During 1874 and 10, Karakava sent representatives to the United States for consultations, hoping to sign a reciprocal treaty with the United States to solve the depression in Hawaii at that time. In 165438+ year1October, Karakava went to Washington, D.C. to meet with President hiram ulysses grant. After consultation, the two sides signed a reciprocal treaty on June 30th, 1875. The reciprocal treaty allows certain Hawaiian products, mainly sugar and rice, to enter the United States duty-free.

In the early days of Karakava's rule, he used the power of the king to appoint and dissolve the cabinet. He believes that Ali's ancestral power has been given to him. Karakava constantly disbanded the old cabinet and appointed a new one. This move has attracted criticism from radicals, who expect to reform the Hawaiian government and make Hawaii a constitutional monarchy like the British way-the monarch has little real power over the government, but his position is very high, and he is the head of state. The faction also believes that cabinet members should be decided by the legislature, not appointed by the king. During the reign of Karakava, the confrontation between the two sides continued.

188 1 year, King Karakava left Hawaii and went to various countries in the world to inspect immigration affairs and enhance diplomatic relations. He also wants to study how the rulers of other countries govern the country. During his absence from China, his sister and heir to the throne, Princess Lydia, acted as regent of the throne (Prince Leryuku, the heir to the throne appointed by the king, died on 1877). Karakava went to San Francisco first, and the United States treated him with royal standards. Then he went to Japan to meet the Japanese emperor. He went to China, Siam, Myanmar, India, Egypt, Italy, Belgium, Germany, Austria, France, Spain, Portugal and Britain, and finally he returned to Hawaii via the United States. During this trip, he met with the monarchs and heads of state of many countries, including the Pope, the King of Italy and Queen Victoria. He was the first king to travel around the world.

Karakava also built a European-style palace-arani Palace in Honolulu. Because of the king's interest in new technology, this palace is the first in the world with running water and electricity. It is also the only remaining palace on American territory. This palace is exquisite and small, with a lot of furniture, decorations and even building materials, which Karakava ordered when traveling in Europe.

It is said that King Karakava intends to build a Polynesian empire. 1886, the legislature allocated $30,000 to the government to establish the Polynesian Union. The king sent representatives to the kingdom of Samoa, and the proposal of alliance between the two countries was approved by Samoan King Maglietto Ya. However, this alliance did not last long, because King Karakava lost power every other year because of the bayonet constitution, and the reformists terminated this alliance after gaining power.

From 65438 to 0887, the mission was disappointed with King Karakava. In order to control the kingdom politically and economically, they led the establishment of a secret military group called "Hawaii Alliance", with the intention of completely ending the monarchy and annexing the Hawaiian Islands by the United States. Its members have never exceeded 400.

These people are mainly Americans, including descendants of some missionaries. Lorraine thurston, the lawyer behind the scenes, is the grandson of an American missionary. The core military team composed of government officials is called Honolulu Rifle Team, which completed the armed assembly in the same year.

Scared by the armed forces, Karakava was asked to reshuffle the cabinet, appoint members of the team and sign a new constitution called bayonet constitution. It greatly weakened the executive power of the king. Not only can the legislature revoke the king's veto power, but all actions of the king must be countersigned by the cabinet, and members of the House of Lords must be elected. It also adds provisions allowing non-Hawaiian citizens to vote. Although there were forces against the revolution led by Robert willcocks, they failed.