On this day, December 19 , in 1842

The US government issued a letter that formally recognized Hawaii as an independent nation. The letter affirmed America's trade interests in Hawaii and stated that no other nation should engage in further colonization of the islands. This event was followed by a treaty of friendship between the US and Hawaii which established an official system of trade and cooperation between the two. Eventually, America decided that they wanted a little more control of the Hawaiian economy, and 56 years later, the indigenous government of Hawaii was overthrown... what a coincidence!