Filipino American Imperialism
Expansion into the Philippines meant different things to different leaders. Some leaders believed in expansion for economic reasons while others believed in spreading American idealism. Finally, during a time when America had gained political and economic strength, Spain was oppressing their people and American leaders argued that the U.S. needed to provide humanitarian aid. In this essay, I will exam three instances of motives used to justify expansion into the Philippines. In the first passage, “The Pacific is the Future,” Senator Albert Beveridge pleas with congress to keep the Philippines because of the financial gain with regards to exports of American goods to Asia. He goes on to say that the Philippines is really the last real estate in all of the oceans and to
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give this territory up would be a permanent mistake.
In the second passage, “the Strenuous Life,” Teddy Roosevelt was trying to appeal to the decency of all Americans, advising them not to give up the good fight just because America has encountered challenges by acquiring new territories.
He argued that the strenuous effort and conquering the problems before America was for the benefit of the U.S. and the World.
The third passage, written by a historian, reveals that McKinley justified going to war with Spain for humanitarian efforts. It was no secret that Spain was oppressing the people of Cuba. McKinley reasoned to the American public that the U.S. needed to liberate the Cuban people from Spain, leaving room for McKinley to negotiate for the Philippines, setting the Filipinos free and giving America rule over this island before another powerful nation could take over. Many pro-expansionists excused this motive for expansionism as a side-effect.
Looking back, the motives for obtaining the Philippines are clear. Territory, economics, and American idealism played a key role in seeking control of the Philippines. While American leaders had reasonable explanations for going to war with Spain, they were not the original
objectives.
give this territory up would be a permanent mistake.
In the second passage, “the Strenuous Life,” Teddy Roosevelt was trying to appeal to the decency of all Americans, advising them not to give up the good fight just because America has encountered challenges by acquiring new territories.
He argued that the strenuous effort and conquering the problems before America was for the benefit of the U.S. and the World.
The third passage, written by a historian, reveals that McKinley justified going to war with Spain for humanitarian efforts. It was no secret that Spain was oppressing the people of Cuba. McKinley reasoned to the American public that the U.S. needed to liberate the Cuban people from Spain, leaving room for McKinley to negotiate for the Philippines, setting the Filipinos free and giving America rule over this island before another powerful nation could take over. Many pro-expansionists excused this motive for expansionism as a side-effect.
Looking back, the motives for obtaining the Philippines are clear. Territory, economics, and American idealism played a key role in seeking control of the Philippines. While American leaders had reasonable explanations for going to war with Spain, they were not the original
objectives.