1959 Hawaii Joined the Union

Beach
Hawaii Beach

On August 21,1959 Hawaii, the "Aloha State," joined the Union.


Polynesians first settled Hawaii about 300 CE. The population of the islands slowly grew from that time. The first documented visit by Europeans took place in 1778 by Captain James Cook. Locals killed Cook after getting into a dispute with them. After Cooks visit, the islands were visited by Europeans who brought disease that killed many locals. The islands were incorporated into a single kingdom- the kingdom of Hawaii. On January 17, 1893, Queen Liliʻuokalani was overthrown by a group of US citizens. In 1898 the United States annexes Hawaii after the Congress passed the Newlands Resolution. In 1900 Hawaii was granted self-government as a territory. The Republican Party in Hawaii which represented the business interests opposed a bid for statehood, however, in the early 1950s the Democratic Party gain control of the state and voted for statehood. In March 1959 the Congress passed the Hawaii Admission Act. On June 27, 1959, 94.3% of the of the population of the islands voted in favor of accepting statehood.