The Territory of Hawai?i, abbreviated officially as T.H., was established on July 7, 1898 and dissolved on August 21, 1959 when Hawai?i became a state. The U.S. Congress passed the Newlands Resolution which annexed the former Kingdom of Hawai?i and later Republic of Hawai?i to the United States. Hawai?i's territorial history includes a period from 1941 to 1944 when the islands were placed under martial law. Civilian government was dissolved and a military governor was appointed.
Upon the overthrow of Queen Lili?uokalani in 1893, the Committee of Safety led by Lorrin A. Thurston established the Provisional Government of Hawai?i to govern the islands in transition to expected annexation by the United States. Thurston actively lobbied Congress while the monarchy, represented in Washington, D.C. by Princess Victoria Ka?iulani, argued that the overthrow of her aunt's government was illegal.
First annexation proceedings began when U.S. President Benjamin Harrison stepped down and Grover Cleveland took office. Cleveland was an anti-imperialist and was strongly against annexation. He withdrew the annexation treaty from consideration, mounted an inquiry and recommended the restoration of Lili?uokalani. Further investigation by Congress led to the Morgan Report, which established that the actions of U.S. troops were completely neutral, and exonerated the U.S. from any accusations of complicity with the overthrow.
