Philippine American Imperialism

Since the early 1900s, the American Empire has spread its influence into a large number of countries throughout the world. Almost all of Latin America has fell victim to American imperialism as well as several countries throughout Africa, The Middle East, and Southeast Asia. Many historians have argued that the starting point of all this was America's intervention in Cuba and the Philippines. It has been proven that the sole purpose behind America's intervention into these countries was to expand its economic interests, but methods they used to achieve their goals especially in the Philippines can be described as shocking. Many have argued that racism is one of these methods that were used in the Philippines. Based on the context of arguments
“Many of their people are utterly unfit for self-government and show no signs of becoming fit” (Roosevelt, pg 96). What he’s basically saying is that without American guidance the Filipinos are incapable of governing their own society. Roosevelt himself describes their form of government as “savage anarchy” (Roosevelt, pg 96). This argument very much applies the use of racism to dehumanize a large group of people because it gives Americans the notion that the Filipinos are an uncivilized people which could convince them that the Filipinos need to be educated into the European standard of what it means to be civilized. Another example of an argument that claims that the Filipinos are incapable of surviving by themselves was in the words of senator Orville H. Platt. He argues that if America were to extend its helping hand into the Philippines then they would obtain “principles which protect them in their lives, which protect them in their property, which protect them in their efforts to secure happiness” (Platt, pg 100). These arguments are proof that racism is prevalent during the debate about the future of American presence in the
The first senator, Donelson Caffery argues that the only way in which America can successfully keep hold of the Philippines is “under the power of unlimited, cruel despotism” (Caffery, pg 100). Based on the words and actions of America in the Philippines it would seem that Caffery was right. There has been several recordings of high levels of prejudice in America's attitude towards the Filipinos when they resisted American occupation. A man in Washington stated “Our fighting blood was up, and we wanted to kill n-words” (Zinn, pg 315). This prejudice was expressed not just in their words, but their actions as well. American soldiers tortured the Filipinos using a method known as the water cure in which “enormous volumes of water were forced down the throat of the victim while interrogators knelt or jumped on his distended abdomen” (Jacobson, pg 120). For one to be able to say such things and commit such vile atrocities that person has to believe that the person or persons they are taking action against is less than human. The second senator John McLaurin puts forth a strong argument about not occupying the Philippines, but what's interesting is that he exposes himself as a racist by referring to the Filipinos as “the inferior race” (McLaurin, pg 101). This shows the