The Annexation of Hawaii refers to the process by which the United States acquired the Hawaiian Islands in 1898. Initially, Hawaii was an independent kingdom, but American business interests, particularly in sugar, grew significantly in the late 19th century. This led to increased American influence and the eventual overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani in 1893 by a group of American and European settlers. Following the overthrow, the Republic of Hawaii was established, and in 1898, the U.S. Congress passed the Newlands Resolution, formally annexing Hawaii. The islands became a U.S. territory, and later, in 1959, Hawaii was admitted as the 50th state of the United States.