1) In the late 16th and 17th centuries, pirates operated independently from governments and as democracies, attacking Spanish ships for their gold and silver with the support of Queen Elizabeth I of England.
2) By the late 17th century, as Spanish ships declined and pirates began attacking British ships, they lost government support and were eliminated from areas like the Bahamas and Carolinas by 1730.
3) In the late 18th century, Chief Kamehameha of Hawaii exploited European contact and technology to conquer the Hawaiian Islands and become their new monarch, presiding over a period of recovery and prosperity.