Daily Vignette for 28 November -- Ka Lā Hui, Hawaiian Independence Day
On November 28th 1843, the Kingdom of Hawaii was officially recognized by the United Kingdom and France as an independent nation.
Hawaii had been unified as a single kingdom in 1810 by King Kamehameha I, who patterned his government on the independent constitutional monarchies of Europe. But in spite of this, the European powers had failed to recognize Hawaii's place among the community of nations. In 1839 a French naval expeditionary force threatened Hawaii with attack unless Hawaiian laws outlawing Catholicism were revoked and the free practice of the Catholic religion allowed. Queen Kaʻahumanu, the widow of King Kamehameha, had recently converted to protestantism.
Then in 1843, a British expeditionary force led by Lord George Paulet entered Honolulu Harbor and demanded that King Kamehameha III cede the islands to the British Crown. The Hawaiians, realizing that they were vastly outgunned by the British, sought help from American business interests who brought international pressure to bear. The result was an apology from the British government for Paulet's unauthorized actions and the restoration of Hawaiian sovereignty.
King Kamehameha III had learned a lesson from this experience. He sought help from American and European businessmen in Hawaii to secure a declaration on the part of the European Powers recognizing Hawaiian independence. With the support of US President John Tyler, the Hawaiian question was put forward by US ministries in London and Paris. On March 17th 1843, King Louis-Philippe of France recognized Hawaiian independence at the urging of King Leopold I of Belgium. On April 1st 1843, Lord Aberdeen on behalf of Queen Victoria, assured the Hawaiian delegation that, "Her Majesty's Government was willing and had determined to recognize the independence of the Sandwich Islands under their present sovereign."
Finally, on November 28th 1843, the British and French Governments formally recognized Hawaiian independence. The "Anglo-Franco Proclamation", a joint declaration by France and Britain, was signed by King Louis-Phillipe of the French and Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom.
Hawaii had been unified as a single kingdom in 1810 by King Kamehameha I, who patterned his government on the independent constitutional monarchies of Europe. But in spite of this, the European powers had failed to recognize Hawaii's place among the community of nations. In 1839 a French naval expeditionary force threatened Hawaii with attack unless Hawaiian laws outlawing Catholicism were revoked and the free practice of the Catholic religion allowed. Queen Kaʻahumanu, the widow of King Kamehameha, had recently converted to protestantism.
Then in 1843, a British expeditionary force led by Lord George Paulet entered Honolulu Harbor and demanded that King Kamehameha III cede the islands to the British Crown. The Hawaiians, realizing that they were vastly outgunned by the British, sought help from American business interests who brought international pressure to bear. The result was an apology from the British government for Paulet's unauthorized actions and the restoration of Hawaiian sovereignty.
King Kamehameha III had learned a lesson from this experience. He sought help from American and European businessmen in Hawaii to secure a declaration on the part of the European Powers recognizing Hawaiian independence. With the support of US President John Tyler, the Hawaiian question was put forward by US ministries in London and Paris. On March 17th 1843, King Louis-Philippe of France recognized Hawaiian independence at the urging of King Leopold I of Belgium. On April 1st 1843, Lord Aberdeen on behalf of Queen Victoria, assured the Hawaiian delegation that, "Her Majesty's Government was willing and had determined to recognize the independence of the Sandwich Islands under their present sovereign."
Finally, on November 28th 1843, the British and French Governments formally recognized Hawaiian independence. The "Anglo-Franco Proclamation", a joint declaration by France and Britain, was signed by King Louis-Phillipe of the French and Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom.