| On This Day in American History |
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On August 21, 1959, Hawaii becomes the 50th state after President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs a proclamation. First settled by Polynesians in the eighth century, by the mid-18th century, American traders were drawn to Hawaii’s sandalwood, which was sought after in China. By the mid 1800s, sugar was introduced as a very successful cash crop. This brought more Americans, and with them, dramatic changes to Hawaii’s political, cultural, economic and religious life. During the Spanish-American War, the U.S. used Pearl Harbor, causing many to realize Hawaii’s strategic importance. In 1900, Hawaii was officially annexed. The sneak attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, further intertwined the U.S. and Hawaii. The state is the only U.S. state geographically located in Oceania, and it is the only state with an Asian plurality. |
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