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Originally posted by Robert
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It works to an extent, but there are limits. There are separatist movements in both states, though not overwhelmingly large. The Hawaiian is from the most native groups. But populations do change.
Also, the reason that both (though disconnected) were absorbed was basically anti British (remember both are absorbed in the 19th Century).
The leaders (for the most part) in both major parties from 1812 to 1900 had the nasty habit of "twisting the Lion's Tail", the "Lion" being the British Lion. This was based on the mythology of the American Revolution and the War of 1812 that England was our perennial enemy (and France our friend). While it was true that France became the first nation to recognize and ally itself with us (in 1778) the French did it to get back at the British for the long series of defeats (from the War of Spanish Succession to the Seven Years War) Britain inflicted on France and French interests*.
[*Most Americans, for instance, while recalling Lafayette and Rochambeau and De Grasse assisting us in winning the Revolution here at Yorktown and the Battle of the Capes, barely are aware of the serious series of sea battles in the Indian Ocean between Admirals Suffren and Hughes from 1779 to 1782. Nor are they aware of the French defeat at the battle of the Saints in the Caribbean in 1782 by Admirals Rodney and Hood. But this is normal - we don't know that our reluctant ally Spain wasted it's portion of the war fighting to recapture Gibraltar, and losing. ]
The myth also papered over some unpleasant facts we chose not to note - to make ourselves look better. Basically the War of 1812 was started as a land grab at the expense of British North America (Canada did not exist as Canada then). The Canadians, by the way, proved quite capable at defending themselves from Yankee invaders (i.e. General Isaac Brock). Instead we kept pointing at impressment of sailors. While this was a serious problem, it probably was not as bad as it seemed on the whole (the British were trying to reclaim their own sailors). Furthermore to go to war in 1812 against Britain made us an unlikely ally - Napoleon. In a way the U.S. and Napoleon in 1812-1815 resembles poor Marshal Mannerheim and the Finns stuck relying on Hitler against the Russians from 1939 - 1944. I will only say (and the mitigation sticks a little in my throat) Napoleon at least gave some lip service to the goals of the French Revolution in Europe. However it is, Britain rightly regarded our unofficial alliance with the Corsican as a stab in the back against a country who was (by fighting him) actually protecting us.
During the rest of the 19th Century this anti-British myth lasted. However, because the War of 1812 was a draw for the U.S. and Britain (but not for Canada!!
) both countries did all they could not to go to war against each other a third times. Border problems and the Alabama Claims were settled by arbitration panels or diplomats. That actually was positive. However both countries were still rivals elsewhere. Seward's purpose in getting Alaska (which Tsar Alexander II of Russia sought to unload) was to prevent it ending up as a new part of Canada. Both countries also had rival Pacific trade positions - and the Kingdom of Hawaii played a major part of this. In fact, in 1893, the Hawaiian monarchists hoped that Britain would step in and declare a protectorate over their nation from the U.S. That it did not was due to the changing nature in diplomatic circles of both countries. The U.S. was to rise to the level of World Power by 1898, but it's war with Spain was not liked in Europe (most European states seeing it as opportunistic and at the expense of a fellow European state). That same year the Second Anglo-Boer War began, and Britain felt the same type of disapproval in fighting a non-native (read European based) colonial group: the German-Dutch Boers. The German Empire did not help matters by being openly pro-Boer, with Kaiser Wilhelm II sending a notoriously open telegram of congratulations to Paul Krueger earlier in smashing the 1896 Jameson Raid. Suddenly Britain and the U.S. began to realize that for all the differences they were basically in the same boat together. So the unofficial alliance began. Diplomatic overtures to France from the Fashoda Incident onward, as France and Britain sensed Germany to be the new common enemy led to the Dual Entente in 1902, and so the three Western democracies started being lined up together.
By the way, not only did I forget (as Pat mentioned) the "Centennial State" of Colorado, but I forgot that after World War Ii the U.N saddled the U.S. with the North Mariana Islands as well.
Jeff
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