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Should the United States Have Annexed the Philippines?
By: Clifton K.
What would you do if you were granted the opportunity to own an island? Would you one: take over it, or two: let it be free? This is the dilemma that the United States have to face. In 1898, the Spanish-American War took place, the United States left the battlefield victorious. And because of their victory, the United States had won two islands, Cuba and the Philippines. The United States weren’t really interested in Cuba, which quickly became off their list, but the Philippines? This quickly become a problem for the U.S., many people thought that we should just annex the Philippines, but others like Andrew Carnegie and Grover Cleveland thought we shouldn’t annex them or it would make the U.S. look like an empire. To annex simply means to make part of, join. People against the annexation, were known as anti-imperialists. In the end the United States did annex the Philippines. But should the United States of annexed the Philippines? Was it the right choice? Yes, the United States made the right choice and annexed the Philippines to make their life better.
The first reason why the United States was right to annex the Philippines is because the Filipinos are not capable of governing themselves. William McKinley makes an excellent point, “That we could not leave them [Philippines] to themselves- they were unfit for self-governing- and they would soon have anarchy and misrule…” (Document C). The Philippines would have messed up if they would govern themselves. Albert J. Beveridge says, “The rule that all just government applies only to those who are capable of self-government,” (Document B). The Filipinos need the United States to help govern them. Both those men were right, the Filipinos were not ready. Another reason why the United States was right to annex the Philippines is because if the United States didn’t annex them, other stronger countries would have taken control over them and
By: Clifton K.
What would you do if you were granted the opportunity to own an island? Would you one: take over it, or two: let it be free? This is the dilemma that the United States have to face. In 1898, the Spanish-American War took place, the United States left the battlefield victorious. And because of their victory, the United States had won two islands, Cuba and the Philippines. The United States weren’t really interested in Cuba, which quickly became off their list, but the Philippines? This quickly become a problem for the U.S., many people thought that we should just annex the Philippines, but others like Andrew Carnegie and Grover Cleveland thought we shouldn’t annex them or it would make the U.S. look like an empire. To annex simply means to make part of, join. People against the annexation, were known as anti-imperialists. In the end the United States did annex the Philippines. But should the United States of annexed the Philippines? Was it the right choice? Yes, the United States made the right choice and annexed the Philippines to make their life better.
The first reason why the United States was right to annex the Philippines is because the Filipinos are not capable of governing themselves. William McKinley makes an excellent point, “That we could not leave them [Philippines] to themselves- they were unfit for self-governing- and they would soon have anarchy and misrule…” (Document C). The Philippines would have messed up if they would govern themselves. Albert J. Beveridge says, “The rule that all just government applies only to those who are capable of self-government,” (Document B). The Filipinos need the United States to help govern them. Both those men were right, the Filipinos were not ready. Another reason why the United States was right to annex the Philippines is because if the United States didn’t annex them, other stronger countries would have taken control over them and