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
The ending of the Spanish-American War left the United States with a controversial question. Many debates rose throughout the U.S. about whether the Philippine Islands should be annexed or not. The Philippines fought along side with the United States against Spanish to gain their independence. The annexation of the Philippine Islands would be unjustified and an act of tyranny. The decision done by the U.S. to annex the Philippines would rise uncertainty between the two countries.
“No man is good enough to govern another man without that other’s consent” (Doc A). Abraham Lincoln said that, what he means is we need permission to take someone over our rule. Unlike the US who annexed the Philippines without their consent. The US went against it’s own constitution. The US didn’t want the Filipinos to learn how
“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.
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
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
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.
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
Also, Social Darwinism had been a huge influence to many Americans, which led them to believe that the United States had a responsiblity to bring industrialization and democracy to less developed nations. Many American leaders, such as Theodore Roosevelt, thought that the ticket and key tool for imperialism would be a powerful naval presence, his, “big stick” that would rival any great European power. Through necessity of resources and war with Spain, the United States would free Cuba, annex Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippines. Annexation had a pronounced affect on the citizens of those countries, more so in the Philippines. As we know the United States engaged in imperialism to promote their influence of democracy to new parts of the world. The United States believed they had a responsible to police the Western Hemisphere, but the United States’ decision to engage in imperialism was much more than
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,
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.
Gerardo Piedra Justin Baker U.S. History 06 December 2017 Philippines American War The Philippine American War was an armed conflict between the first Philippine Republic and the United States that lasted 3 years from 1899 to 1902. At the beginning of this war Emilio Aguinaldo was in pretty much in control and had the american soldiers in control and had them beat but that was only in the first part of the war. Sooner rather than later the advantages the american military had came to show when they showed their dominance.
In Document A, the American fear that the Philippines governor wants to get rid of “the spirit of 1776” in the island, which means to get rid of their independence. But when America won the war the Filipinos didn’t have Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of happiness. In document D, William Jennings Bryan says “ we dare not educate” the Filipinos which he is making a joke. He is saying if they teach the Filipinos how to read they will realize they aren’t getting life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness from the Declaration of Independence. Bryan’s says that it isn’t necessary to take colonies in order to get rich, like other Americans believe. He said it’s not righteous because you're owning someone. He said they could have still gotten rich trading with the Philippines without having to own
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
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