American Imperialism in the Philippines

1
American Imperialism in the Philippines
2
The U.S. became involved in the Philippines
almost by accident.

• In the yellow journalism and Remember the
  Maine rush to get the Spanish out of Cuba, the
  U.S. launched a naval attack against the Spanish
  fleet in the Philippines
• After destroying the Spanish fleet, American
  soldiers landed in the Philippines

3
Americans and Filipinos Fighting Together

• Filipinos, who had been fighting the Spanish for
  years, saw an opportunity after the defeat of the
  Spanish navy
• Led by a freedom fighter named Aguinaldo (who was
  living in exile and was actually returned to the
  Philippines by the U.S. navy) the Filipinos
  attacked the Spanish imperial government
• The U.S., eager to continue its defeat of Spain,
  joined the freedom fighters and kicked Spain out

4
After the Spanish?

• Spain surrendered to America (Treaty of Paris)
• McKinley faced a choice- what to do with the
  Philippines?
• Give them back to Spain? Yuck!
• Leave them alone? But they have no government!
• Hmmm

5
(No Transcript)
6
Whispers in McKinleys Ears

• Think of the to be made from a trading base in
  Asia, whispered the businessmen.
• Think of the advantage as a military outpost,
  whispered the military.
• Think of your chance to civilize and uplift this
  poor race, whispered the religious leaders,
  white supremacists, and advocates of spreading
  democracy.

7
(No Transcript)
8
Ill Take It, Says McKinley!
9
Aguinaldo Felt Betrayed

• Said that the U.S. had promised freedom for the
  Philippines
• He rose up against the U.S. military in the
  Philippines
• A brutal war resulted
• The U.S. placed Filipinos in concentration camps
  to defeat guerrilla forces
• 20,000 Filipinos died
• War cost U.S. 400 million
• U.S. eventually won

10
Many of the American Soldiers Sent to fight in
the Philippines were black

• Do we see the irony here?
• Some black soldiers were so offended that they
  defected to the Filipino cause and fought against
  America