1. Strategic location: Hawaii is located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, making it a key strategic location for military and commercial purposes. The US wanted to control Hawaii in order to protect its interests in the Pacific and to project its power in the region.
2. Economic interests: Hawaii's economy was based on agriculture, particularly sugarcane and pineapple plantations. The US wanted to control Hawaii in order to gain access to these resources and to expand its economic influence in the Pacific.
3. Expansionist ideology: The US was in a period of rapid expansion in the late 19th century, and Hawaii was seen as a natural extension of American territory. Many Americans believed that it was the destiny of the US to control the entire Pacific Ocean.
4. Fears of foreign intervention: The US was concerned that another country, such as Britain, Germany, or Japan, might try to take control of Hawaii. By annexing Hawaii, the US could prevent this from happening.
In 1898, the US annexed Hawaii, making it a territory of the United States. Hawaii became the 50th state of the US in 1959.
