Pacific Gibraltar: U.S.-Japanese Rivalry over the Annexation of Hawai'i, 1885-1898

The first detailed examination of Hawaiian annexation in a generation, Pacific Gibraltar offers a fresh analysis and provocative conclusions about major episodes in this complex story. Based on a sweeping reevaluation of new and existing sources in three countries, it addresses such key questions as the extent of U.S. support for the overthrow of the monarchy, including the USS Boston's mysterious return to Honolulu to land troops as the revolution began, and President Cleveland's attempt to restore the queen using naval forces to intimidate the white provisional government. Morgan also examines the U.S.-Japan annexation confrontation in 1897 and the final acquisition of the islands in 1898 as the culmination of growing appreciation for Hawaii s value to U.S. defense.

An ADST-DACOR Diplomats and Diplomacy Book published in partnership with the Association of Diplomatic Studies and Training.