5. Why did the McKinley Tariff Act set off a crisis on the Hawaiian Islands?

The McKinley Tariff Act eliminated the tariffs on all sugar entering the United States. Now sugar that was produced from Hawaii was no longer cheaper than elsewhere. This change reduced the sugar producers' profits. Some U. S. business leaders pushed for making Hawaii apart of the united States, or annexation. By doing this, Hawaiian sugar could be sold for greater profits because American producers received an extra two cents a pound from the United States government.

In 1890, the McKinley Tariff Act passed by the U. S. government set off a crisis in the islands. The act eliminated the tariffs on all sugar entering the United States. Now, sugar from Hawaii was no longer cheaper than sugar produced elsewhere. That change cut into the sugar producers' profits.