U.S. Imperialism and Hawai'i: A Comparative History

U.S. Imperialism and Hawai'i: A Comparative History is a Social Science class taught by Lili Kim.

Course Description
Even though Hawai'i is often referred to as the "Paradise on Earth," the history of Hawai'i is rife with contentious imperial ambitions of the United States. This course examines the history of U.S. illegal occupation and annexation of Hawai'i as a case study of U.S. imperialism. We will examine the history of the rise and fall of the Hawaiian Kingdom, the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy, the establishment of Hawaii as a U.S. territory, the role of the missionaries in introducing capitalist economy in Hawai'i, Native Hawaiian resistance to American annexation, indigenous land struggles as a result of urbanization and U.S. military expansion after annexation, new colonialism of Asian settlers in Hawai'i, revitalization of Hawaiian culture, and contemporary Hawaiian sovereignty movements. We will also be considering and comparing the experiences of Native Americans in their similar struggle for self-determination and sovereignty in the United States. Through a variety of primary sources (court cases, diaries, memoirs, letters) and secondary sources (scholarly books, articles, documentaries, films) students will critically examine how U.S. imperialism manifested itself in Hawai'i and imposed American geopolitical and economic interests on the sovereign people of Hawai'i.

Learning Goals

 * Expressive
 * Multi-Cultural
 * Project-based
 * Presenting
 * Reading
 * Writing