Should the U.S. have Annexed the Philippine Islands?
The U.S. desire to expand and become an imperial power in the world, took effect. The U.S. had maintained its three beliefs. In time these beliefs fueled the desire, and the first would be acting as an individual by relying upon yourself for economic and military support. The next belief is nationalism, in which had Americans feeling optimistic and nationally powerful, and led to the fact that you as a country or not alone and play a threat to others, so you would have to prove yourself more powerful than others too. Social Darwinism is the resource for the next contextual belief. It had fueled one of the most rasist beliefs too, and it was Anglo Saxonism. The belief that Whites are above
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to be take part in movement at this time. The U.S. had shown its power in geography mostly by the control of other nations like the Philippines. "Maintenance of suitable naval stations, in those distant parts of the world to which the armed shipping must follow the peaceful vessels of commerce". (Ferraro,2010) This quote was a good description of the U.S.'s actions during the annexation of the Philippines, because it had shown once more, nationalism. The will to put yourself outside your boundaries and deal with success was powerful in the U.S. They had put their naval ships outside their realms and had their foot on other multiple countries at once, like the Philippines, Hawaii, and Spain. Force was the U.S. innate nature to success, and if forced, more pressure would be applied. All this force for trade goods, location of fuel and the ability to plot bases wherever …show more content…
It also shows how inaccurate the behavior and treatment was to the Philippines, people were almost clueless to the fact that the war over there was gruesome and the Philippines wanted their own independence, not the U.S.'s rule.
No I do not think the U.S. should have annexed the Philippines. "No man is good enough to govern another man without that others consent." (Norton,1997) This quote was in good terms to go along the ideals of the U.S. decisions made towards the Philippines. It is very true what Abraham Lincoln said, that no man can control another, and doing so would compliment imperialism and anglo saxonism. Having the idea that you are and have more power than others, would lead to corruption and unfair treatment of others.
Though the circumstances at the time were different, because the U.S. was not fully in governing power over the Philippines, and the choice to annex the islands was a great stand point in geographical terms. Then after, the U.S. will show its power as a national powerhouse, and that can easily sustain itself and deploy naval strikes all across the world. Many good choices were made by the United States, and annexing the Philippines was one of
The expansion of America was desirable, creating a false duty to get rid of barbaric influence from asianic countries to expand America’s empire. After the end of Spanish rule in the Philippines, Senator Albert Beveridge saw potential in recruiting the Philippines as US territory. He writes, “...The Philippines gives us a base at the door of all East”(Beveridge 1). He wanted to expand America's commercial trades with Asia, but in order to do so would need an ally near the east. Knowing that the Philippines had just come out of Spanish rule, Beveridge suggested in the letter that they were not capable of self-governing, and America's intervention would be needed.
Many Americans thought occupying foreign countries, like the Philippines after the Spanish American War, was a bad idea because it contradicts the American values of equality found in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. (Doc D) However, a majority of America sided with people like Senator Albert J. Beveridge who believed people were chosen by God to expand into China and the Philippines to open more Asian markets. (Doc E) This was a continuation of past expansionism because acquiring land for money Manifest Destiny have been motives for expansionism for
Even though, during war the United States rather argued it’s nobleness in world matters, protecting Cubans and Filipinos from Spaniards. An exemplar of this is America issuing the Teller Amendment; which declared that Americans had no interest in taking political control in Cuba. But, later the Teller Amendment was proved wrong by the Platt Amendment, which stated that; Cuba would never sign a treaty with foreign power, impairing it’s independence, let America maintain independence and order in the country, and the United States maintain Guantanamo Bay a permanent base. Therefore, the U.S. controlling Cuba’s policies. The Filipinos as well are another exemplar of it, during the Spanish-American war they were offered independence but, later on were taken as United States territory until, the Filipino Revolution led to independence.
When America, as we know it today, was created, it had just freed itself from an unwanted, suffocating European power. The people wanted nothing to do with foreign affairs and their presidents’ policies reflected that. As America moved forward and established themselves as a world power, they began to want more. At the turn of the twentieth century, this want for more hit its peak and because of other circumstances, more was just within reach. America had always prided themselves in staying out of foreign problems and focusing inward, but now a new age was dawning.
They saw it as the “perfect stepping-stones” trade with China and the rest of Asia. American business men felt it was necessary for the government to show some authority and capitalize on this opportunity. American saw Manila as their
One reason was the fact that the United States began an embargo on Japan, ending the trade of Japanese weapons. This limited Japan from obtaining more resources in their expansion. Another reason was that Japan needed oil to help keep expanding and raise their economy. The U.S. Navy was in their way, by controlling the Philippines, which is why they thought they needed to get rid of them. Lastly, both Japan and the U.S. did not agree on each other’s ways of running government.
In 1899, the United States annexed the Philippines after a short but bloody war with Spain. These rich, plentiful islands full of resources were in great demand. The U.S. saw the Philippines; fighting against Spain so like them when they were rebelling, and decided to step in and aid ‘the spirit of 1776’ (Doc. A). However, the question still remains: should the United States have annexed the Philippines?
The US should not have annexed the Philippines because it would be hypocritical of Americans, the
William McKinley in his thoughts on American Expansionism has identified the reasons why America had no other choice but to incorporate Philippines as a part of it. This writing has been lifted from the excerpts of an interview with William McKinley soon after Spain had surrendered in the Spanish-American war. McKinley cleverly talks in this interview about how Philippines just came and fell into the laps of America thereby suggesting the helpless stance of America. He talks about how America’s sole intention and purpose had only been to safeguard its own interests as a country. He had to order that the Spanish fleets in Manila be destroyed because if left unattended, they would have crossed the Pacific and wreaked havoc in the American states
Furthermore, the speaker in Document 6 also challenges imperialism by condemning the U.S. acquisition of the Philippines and by stating that America should be a republic, not an empire. He thinks that the United States has violated the theory of a republic by colonizing other
After the war, America was awarded with the philippines, not sure with what to do with them, they looked at the reasons for imperialism, and expanding their own nation. In regard to expanding, The United States, bought Alaska from russia for 7.2 million dollars. And sugar farmers in Hawaii, overthrew the queen, and annexed to the United States. With the philippines, there were 3 main ways to do diplomacy. 3 different presidents each had their own way of dealing with the issues.
When we made allies of the Filipinos and armed them to fight against Spain”. In my opinion, I think that the people of America had just gone based off of what President Lincoln had stated so greatly before. Yes, he may have expired from this Earth, but based of of what he had been saying corresponds very well to the situation at hand. To me, I think that Abraham Lincoln was one of the greatest Presidents of all time. The wonderful saying that Abraham Lincoln said (Based off of the article in Document A): “no man is good enough to govern another man without that other’s consent.
I do not think that is fair because America abused it’s power on other countries that did not have as much capability. Also, the US used the Guantanamo Bay in Cuba as a military base. Which I find ironic because, President Kennedy threatens Cuba by stating that the US is using their territory (Cuba’s territory) to fight Cuba. I find it quite interesting how America
The Philippines were in-between Japan and their potential oil supply,(DOC B). A possible and smart tactic for Japan would to attack Pearl Harbor and while the fleet is weak, take over the Philippines. Once Japan had acquired the Philippines they would have a base to take over many nations that have large oil amounts. A major factor as to why Pearl Harbor was attacked was that the Americans were cutting Japan off from their oil supply. Japan, as an island nation, had very few natural resources and were very dependant on the American oil.
The United States has undergone major transitional phases in order to become the country it is today. One of its greatest periods of change occurred in the years 1865 to 1940, in which the U.S.’s growing emphasis on strong economic policy changed its interactions with foreign countries, its image to foreign countries, and what role it’s willing to play in the world. These tireless efforts to become an economic powerhouse was a major driving force in the U.S. actions during this time and ultimately allowed it to change its image on the global stage from a new. To begin to understand what caused these dramatic changes in the how the U.S. interacts with the rest of the world, it is imperative to understand the origins of its more capitalist roots,