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Primary sourcePainting14 December 1893

The Hawaiian Situation Explained

The World · 14 December 1893

A racist 1893 newspaper cartoon mocking Queen Liliʻuokalani after the overthrow, suggesting she was not eager to reclaim her throne.

This racist cartoon mocks Liliʻuokalani after the overthrow of her government, misrepresenting her feelings about losing the throne.

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Political cartoon titled 'The Hawaiian Situation Explained.' A stout man in a tall hat and long coat stands beside an ornate throne-like chair, gesturing. A woman in a long gown and hoop earrings stands at the foot of a step, hand to her chin. Caption reads: 'It Is Said that Queen Lil Is Really Not Eager to Return to the Throne.' Printed footer: 'The World: Thursday Evening, December 14, 1893.'
The World, "The Hawaiian Situation Explained," 14 December 1893.

About this source

What it is

This is a political cartoon titled The Hawaiian Situation Explained, published in The World newspaper on 14 December 1893. It shows a man gesturing toward an empty throne while a woman representing Queen Liliʻuokalani looks on, with the caption suggesting she was not really eager to return to power.

Why it matters

This cartoon reveals how American newspapers mocked and distorted the queen's position after the overthrow of her government. It is drawn with racist, stereotyped features, showing how US media of the time used caricature to dismiss and belittle a Hawaiian monarch and shape public opinion about the annexation debate.

Look closer

  • How is the queen drawn, and what does that reveal about the artist's attitudes?
  • What is the cartoon suggesting about her feelings, and how can we tell if that is fair?
  • Why might a newspaper want readers to think the queen did not want her throne back?

This painting is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Queen Liliʻuokalani on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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