Sariah Smith
McMaster
Gold 3
17 November 2016
Philippine Annexation DBQ
Scholars typically cite imperialism as a primary cause of World War I, and though controversial, America was no stranger to the practice. In 1898, the United States won the Spanish American War, resulting in the Paris Treaty. America gained several formerly Spanish colonies from their victory, and through the Treaty of Paris, they annexed the Philippines. Filipino insurgents, who had fought for the Philippines ' independence, rebelled against the annexation. This led to the Philippine-American War. However, not all Americans supported the annexation. In fact, the Paris Treaty passed by only one vote, and anti-imperialists such as Mark Twain contended with pro-imperialists like Theodore Roosevelt. Despite the debate, the United States should not have annexed the Philippines, because the decision was unnecessary, hypocritical, and tyrannical.
America 's annexation of the Philippines was not a necessary decision. Supporters of the annexation believed it would benefit America economically. However, Democratic presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan stated in a speech, "It is not necessary to own people in order to trade with them" (Document D). Trade with the Philippines could have been accomplished without occupying them. In addition, pro-imperialists exhibited a patronizing attitude toward the Filipinos; for instance, Albert J. Beveridge described the Philippines as "ours to save" (Document B). Many
Change in American government was imperative in expanding the nation. It is ludicrous to believe that as other nations were growing, America would just sit back and watch. Governmental involvement made "the Philippines ours forever" (Document 1). The United States' plan was to take the Philippines, educate, uplift, and civilize them (Document 2). Such a "noble deed" seemed to benefit both the filipinos and americans. During this time, as mentioned in document eight, "we had duties to others and duties to ourselves". Government's changing role made these relationships available to the
“No man is good enough to govern another man without that other’s consent. When the white man governs himself, that is self-government, but when he governs himself and also governs another man, that is more than self-government - that is despotism [rule by a tyrant].” In annexing the Philippines, we were being conquistadors, comparable to Spain, who we were fighting at the time. The Filipinos knew exactly what they were risking by trying to receive independence, they knew they may have been too weak to govern themselves. It is completely against the foundation of the US to seize freedom from another man. I believe the United States should have never annexed the Philippines without the Filipinos’ total consent.
were advocates against the annexation, many believed it was the right decision. Many individuals believed that taking the Philippines would help and better the country. For example, in Document C, William McKinley states that allowing the country to be independent would be wrong because the Philippines is unfit to self-govern and it could lead them anarchy like Spain. McKinley also states that there is no where else for the Philippines to go, he says that America cannot give them back to Spain because it would be shameful and that the country cannot be given to France or Germany because it would disgraceful. Therefore, America has no other choice but annex the Philippine Islands and save it from ruin. The individuals who fought for the annexation depended their arguments on what they perceived as the right thing to
Senator Beveridge argues in his speech to Congress this very notion of the U.S. extending its power throughout the world. Beveridge says that it is our duty as God's "chosen people" to take control over the Philippines. The senator emphatically advocates for the annexation of the
As stated in document C President McKinley wanted to keep the Philippines, because we as a country made a promise to God to help the Philippines and by annexing them we helped keep that promise by protecting them whether it be with our military or help with money. Our country can not say “no” to God. The Philippines as a whole country wouldn't be capable of protecting their country and they were
The U.S was right to annex the Philippines because they were treated poorly by the Spanish. The Philippines wouldn't have been able to govern themselves and soon they would have an anarchy. If the U.S didn't annex the Philippines then Germany, Japan, or England would have taken over.
1899 marked the year when America set its sites from the Spanish to the First Philippine Republic plunging American into yet another war ending with the temporary annexation of the Philippine Islands spreading American imperialism to the Far East. Within one year of winning their independence from
The start of the Spanish-American war also marked something bigger- American entry into world affairs. Since then, the U.S. has continued to have a significant hand in various conflicts around the world, and has entered many other treaties and agreements. In 1914, at the start of World War I (WWI), President Woodrow Wilson, in a declaration of neutrality, vowed to keep America out of the war. Inspite of this, Americans were spurred on by German aggression, violation of international law, and protecting economic interests. The U.S. had entered the war, creating a major turning point. The war ended with Germany's defeat. As a determining force in the victory of the war, America became almost soley in charge of creating a post-war agenda. But,
They also used the Spanish conflict to gain control of other Spanish lands in the Latin Americas, Puerto Rico and Guam to expand their economy by searching for new markets abroad. For instance, the Americans looked to expand into the east in the 1890s to access raw materials and to export over produced goods to help the American economy. The annexation of Hawaii on July 7, 1898, was an effort to create a stronger economy because it was considered the ‘’crossroads to the Pacific’’ so by annexing Hawaii the, the Americans were able to gain access to other countries such as the Philippines which they purchased for 20 million dollars displaying motives of expansion. In 1901 when the Filipinos wanted independence the US refused which led to the killing of 50,000 to 200,000 Filipinos in a war between the Philippines and the USA which suggests that the motive for the war in the Philippines was to keep their economic influence and to show the great military power of the US. This was not uncommon in American foreign policy as they also went to war in Vietnam to uphold their values of capitalism but unlike in the Philippines, it was unsuccessful. Therefore, Vietnam was typical of US foreign policy as the events in the Philippines gave the US confidence to intervene in other Asian
The bald red, white, and blue eagle of American Democracy is coming for you Phillipines, run while you can! Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States, was so infatuated with the idea of democracy, and he wanted every country to have a little taste of American freedom! After America's victory in the Spanish American War, George Dewey and his 11,000 American troops marched into manila and were unsure whether to liberate or occupy the filipino people. Thinking the they were here to help, the Filipino rebels trusted the Americans, but were soon betrayed as Dewey decided to occupy the land. The United States had three choices to determine what they wanted to do with the Philippines: Give it back to Spain, Give the filipino people their freedom, or to annex the whole country itself. With much debate ranging from artists, influential citizens, and government officials, the US ultimately decided it would annex! The United States should not have annexed the Philippines but rather should have given them their independence. While others may think the annexation of the Philippines would have benefited them, what the Philippines really needed was
Senator Albert Beveridge of Indiana saw that the acquisition of Philippines was beneficial for the US in a few ways. Trading with others around the globe can be easier for the US when we have the Philippines. That’s because when Beveridge said, “Nothing is so natural as trade with one’s neighbor. The Philippines makes us the nearest neighbors of all the East. Nothing is more natural than to trade with those you know”(Beveridge, 1900). This shows that Beveridge sees the Philippines as a good country for trades because Philippines is surrounded by many other countries, which makes those countries neighbors with the Philippines. So, trading around while having the Philippines would be easier and much more convenient.
acquisition of territories in the western pacific and Latin America. It also caused the signing of the Treaty of Paris, which Spain renounced all claims to countries like Cuba, ceded Guam and Puerto Rico to the United States. The United states the purchased the Philippines to the United States for $20,000,000. Even though America had to fight a war with the Philippines and did not end up taking control of the islands they had managed to claim. This war is also very significant because it was a turning point in the history of both sides. It actually helped in Spain turn away from nations overseas and focus on its economic development. It also emerged the United States as a recognised world
This thus shows the violence of the Colonial masters while the colonized nation was fighting for independence. Moreover, the colonial master’s use of force to control and exert power further adds to the violence in the struggle for independence during the process of decolonization. Finally, during the Spanish-American war of 1898, the US obtained Aguinaldo’s cooperation in the battle again the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay in return for Philippines’ independence. However, one the conflict ended and Spain was defeated, the US annexed Philippines in the Treaty of Paris and this was met with much unhappiness in the Philippines as the Philippines did not want to be colonized yet again and wanted independence. As such, a war between the revolutionaries and the Americans ensued, with the revolutionaries crushed by the US forces and Aguinaldo arrested, asserting American authority and power over the Philippines. As such, it may be seen that the colonial powers used violence to assert and reinforce their power, thus making the entire process of decolonization extremely violent due to the colonialists’ unwillingness to pull out of their colonies.
The Filipino American War was sparked by the unprovoked shooting of Filipino soldiers by American sentries stationed in a suburb of Santa Mesa in February 1899. Pimentel (1999) describes “on a hot, humid night of Feb 4, 1899, American sentries patrolling the Manila suburb of Santa Mesa opened fire on Filipino soldiers walking near a bridge over the San Juan River (Pimentel 1999. Pg. 1).”The war lasted from February 1899 until July 1902. The war was noted as one of the “bloodiest conflicts in U.S. history” noted to have claimed over 250,000 lives (Pimentel 1999). The war lasted longer than the Americans expected, moreover the war resulted in Filipino soldiers shifting to guerrilla warfare to make up the lack of firepower. Pimentel (1999) describes, “overwhelmed by superior American power, the Filipinos shifted to guerrilla warfare. The strategy worked, but it also prompted U.S, commanders to employ more brutal tactics against an elusive enemy that enjoyed popular support (Pimentel 1999. Pg. 2).” The Filipino soldiers were able to find support from the The Filipino people. Filipino people were first colonized by the Spanish for over 300 years before being sold to America for 20 million during the peace treaty signed in Paris on December 1898. Consequently, under the long control of the Spanish gave way to the Filipino people craving their freedom from the Spanish and currently during the time of the war from the American government, thus propelling the Filipino people to aid
In the speech addressed to a group of ministers by President William McKinley,"Decision on the Philippines” revealed the president’s view about the annexing of the Philippines. The United States took over the Philippines after the Philippine–American War. President William McKinley described the reason for taking over as “That we could not give them back to Spain - that would be cowardly and dishonourable;(2) That we could not turn them over to