The Committee of Safety

The Annexation Club's Committee of Safety, formally the Citizen's Committee of Public Safety, was a 13-member group. The group was formed of largely Hawaiian subjects of American heritage and American citizens who were members of the Missionary Party, as well as some foreign residents in the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi. On January 17, 1893, the organization plotted and carried out the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii. The purpose of this group was for the United States to acquire Hawaii. The administration of President Grover Cleveland foiled the independent Republic of Hawaii government in this ambition, and it was not until 1898 that the United States Congress approved a joint resolution of annexation forming the U.S. Territory of Hawaii.

Every government with a diplomatic presence in Hawaii, including the United States, recognized the Provisional Government within 48 hours of the overthrow, albeit the United States government's recognition and subsequent response is recounted in the section above on American Response. Chile, Austria-Hungary, Mexico, Russia, the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Spain, Japan, Italy, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Belgium, China, Peru, and France all recognized the new Provisional Government. When the Republic of Hawaii was formed on July 4, 1894, every nation with diplomatic relations with Hawaii immediately recognized it, with the exception of Britain, which responded in November.

Founded: 1887
Dissolved: 1893

Location: Oʻahu, Hawaii

Purpose: Overthrow of the government of Hawaii, annexation by the United States
Founder: Annexation Club