Sugar plantations were the backbone ( ) of the economy. Sugar was also the main Hawaiian export to the United States. For many y
ears, Hawaiian sugar was sold tariff-free in the United States. In 1890, the US Congress passed the ( ) , which removed tariffs on all foreign sugar imports. This change meant that Hawaiian sugar producers had to compete with other nations in the US market.
After 450 amendments, the Tariff Act of 1890 was passed and increased average duties across all imports from 38% to 49.5%. McKinley was known as the "Napoleon of Protection," and rates were raised on some goods and lowered on others, always in an attempt to protect American manufacturing interests.
They originally promised the people they wouldn’t but when japan attacked pearl harbor they ulitimately decided to join the war on the allied side with countries they felt would be good trustworthy team members