Macros Dictatorship

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

“...We govern our children without their consent...Would not the people of the Philippines prefer the just, human, civilizing government of this Republic…” (Doc B, Albert J. Beveridge). I disagree with this black and white view of the world. The Filipinos are grown people capable of making the best decision for themselves. Children are not (due to their undeveloped frontal lobes). They do not need America to save them. They wanted freedom enough to attempt war with Spain, a global power, so they have earned that

Needless to say, I had drawn a clear distinction between being Filipino and being American, and the main difference centered around values and attitudes. I will leave the Filipino side of the equation for another discussion. My ideas about America was shaped largely by the American media that was available to me when I was growing up in Manila.

The primary source encompasses a chapter that reflects upon male degeneracy in a debate over Philippines. There are numerous incidents that had taken place surrounding Philippines as indicated in U.S. history. The primary source editor

And, with the Philippines, that power is and will forever be the American Republic.” The whole point is that because the U.S. gained more land, the Philippines, the U.S. now has more power. The U.S. is basically completing with other countries. Alfred Thayer Mahan asked, “Is the United States… prepared to

was generous to annex the Philippines because the U.S. lead the Philippines to a self-government. “It takes a few weeks of work like this to make one proud that he is an American”(Doc H). This document tells the story of the Philippine- American War coming to the end with America’s victory. Letter written by William Connor shows how the United States military won the war that lead the US to guiding the Philippines to a stronger government. “it cannot rule over vassal states or subjects peoples without bringing in the elements of death into its own constitution…”(Doc I). Document I explains that annexing the Philippines is unconstitutional, but this is not correct because the Philippines was bought by the U.S. and they were owned by U.S. “We could not leave them to themselves- they were unfit for self government- and they soon would have anarchy and misrule over there worse than Spain’s was”(Doc C). The United States saw the Philippine as unfitted for self- government and the Philippines needed the United States to be a parent government, and guide them to a more fit

The final reason that the United States should annex the Philippines is, if not it would hurt them. As stated before, the Filipinos were unfit for

The Filipino people had helped the US fight the Spanish-American War in hope to gain independence in return. However, instead of gaining independence the Philippines was annexed to the United States on December 10, 1898. When the Filipino’s had found they were going to be ruled over once again they were very unhappy, after all they had helped the US. When Aguinaldo had found out that the Philippines were going to be controlled by the US, he had declared war on the United States.

This patriotic fervor was even enough to somewhat break the racial divider. A case of this is seen in (Document 1) where it is seen that in some cases whites and blacks managed to forget their color differences and join, united as one behind a single banner. This feeling was not shared by all Americans however. Many believed that it was wrong for the United States to impose it’s will upon other areas of the world. In (Document 2) they almost call out downright exploitation of native people. Many Americans felt that even though these natives culture was not the same as their own and in some cases they felt that it was absolutely inferior many united behind the idea that these people still had the right to self determination. The fate of the Philippines was quite similar to that of Puerto Rico but very different to that of Cuba. The Philippines boasted quite a large population compared to that of many other territories annexed from the Spanish and with this brought many problems and solutions. In (Document 3) they explain the difficulties presented with the sudden acquisition of the Philippines. The question of what to do with them became harder and harder to determine

The acquisition of Philippines by the United States is the topic that is going to be focused upon throughout this paper. The historical context of this topic deserves to analyzed with reference to both the primary and secondary readings assigned. The highlighted issue takes place after the treaty of Paris was signed between the United States and Spain which liberated Spain’s remaining colonies. Towards the end of the 19th century, Americans were influenced by the ideology of imperialism. They believed that advanced industrialized nations like the United States, Great Britain and France needed to acquire colonies in order to provide raw materials to feed their industrial economies. Extensive markets were wanted in order to sell finished products to those colonial masses.

According to Aguinaldo, the Philippines had much respect for Americans by treating them well, thinking that they were good people. Filipinos viewed American people as protectors and one who could transform the Philippines island from a land of tyranny to an progressive republic guided by Americans. Aguinaldo imagined that his people would be happy and contented with Americans without sacrificing a single American life, but this was not to be. He urged America to conquer the heart of the Philippine people by being just and leading them with a soft hand instead of dragging them with chains of steel.

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

From 1899 to 1903 the Filipino’s turned against the United States. McKinley decided to hold his possession of the island resulting in a long bloody war. Originally the colonial administration sought out to make the Philippines their version of what thought was right.Press released terrible doings of American troops such as burning villages, torturing prisoners of war, raping and executing civilians. Mark Twain stated “We have gone to conquer” instead of doing what the McKinley administration justified as to “uplift and civilize and Christianize”(672). After the colonial administration took control they started to modernize the islands. Railroads and harbors were expanded, American schoolteachers and public health officials arrived and they

Our country is rich in culture; the occupation of the Spanish, the American, and the Japanese gave the Philippines its diverse and unique culture. This exceptional culture we have in our country has produced numerous brilliant individuals, who up to this day are still well recognized. So it is safe to say that part of the reason why they became who they were is because of their culture; because of our culture. (Ong, 2011)

After the war ended in 1902, United States was on a mission to repair the damages that the Philippines had endured; they wanted to win back the trust of its people. President McKinley created laws that gave the Philippines some of the same provisions as America regarding government structure. According to Sonia M. Zaide, an expert Filipino historian, the Philippines was on its way to rebuilding itself: