Foreign Policy on Philippines
The United states now won the Spanish-American war. Now what? Continuing to take more, this was American's supreme goal. The reason the U.S. "purchased" Philippines because this was cheaper than continuing war with the Spanish. However, U.S seems to be putting threats on Philippines rather than colonizing them. Disagreements rose amongst the Filipino, and this is where the U.S. policy comes in. After the "splendid little war" with Spain, in the Treaty of Paris. Spain would cede Puerto Rico, Guam and Philippines to the U.S for $20 million. United States didn't really purchase the Philippines, but rather just putting investments and making regulations on them. Technically, the Philippines has already won its sovereignty over Spain but the U.S has not recognized that fact. As a result of that unrecognized fact, the Filipinos grew impatient on the U.S. Finally declared war against with the United States. The U.S had an imperialistic behavior all along from the Spanish-American war till the Filipino-American war. U.S' ultimate goal was to colonize the Philippines for imperialist power of course. Since Theodore Roosevelt; who would become president in 1901, believed that pursuing aggressive foreign controls would mean that he would achieve his "big-stick" policy. This was basically a military threat handling international affairs, you can also say that this can involve a portion of militarism. This policy was used on the Philippines, even though Filipinos disagreed big time on this policy. As a result, U.S has recognized Philippines' independence, the Filipinos had control and security of their country. Also this situation took so long to solve it had became transparent to President Roosevelt, and had took 46 more years to withdraw their troops. Getting more will result of wanting more. U.S won the Spanish-American war and gained control of 3 lands. The imperialistic minds of the Americans are huge, this gave the other nations a perspective of Imperialism. If U.S hasn't been using the "big-stick" policy on Philippines, history will surely be rewritten. Using Collective Security would be the best, the U.S could collaborate with the Philippines rather than taking over them. If they wouldn't refuse the fact that they have the ability to actually gain autonomy , then the U.S can just have traded with the Philippines since Filipinos can manage their country themselves. If collective security was used, the Philippines today will be completely different. Their country would be considered a state, and wouldn't be in the 3rd world class. They would prosper with United States having a good relationship all along. Philippines would not have poverty, or hunger, more people will have jobs, life would be just better. Overall, I think that the U.S was greedy and irresponsible. Firstly, they won the Spanish-American War already, and they still want all that land. Then taking them and mistreating them, when they can peacefully negotiate with them. Also, it took them almost a decade to conclude the war and another 46 years to withdraw troops. I think they actually have forgotten about this problem, letting it happen without thinking about how other nations will feel.
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
There were many limitations of the Japanese immigrants, and the main issue was the language in schools…
- 325 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
America had remained mostly an isolated country until the late 1800's when the United States was faced with the opportunity of building a colonial empire. By 1890 the United States, like Europe, had began to expand its influence onto islands in the Caribbean and South Pacific areas. They entered in other countries' affairs claiming that it served the interests of all peoples and were motivated by Idealism. In reality, the United States was mostly after its own self-interest. The Spanish-American War, the United States' Open Door policy, and the control over the Panama Canal zone make it unclear if the United States was pursuing its own self-interest or was inspired by Idealism.…
- 453 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
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.…
- 655 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
Although controversial to some, the Americans made the right decision to annex the Philippines after successfully freeing them from Spanish tyranny and rule. Without American rule and support, the Philippines would have been an easy target to be taken over by Germany, England or Japan who all would have savaged the land and further suppressed the people. The Filipinos were weak, inexperienced and not ready to establish their own government and self rule themselves. During the time of the annexation, the Americans needed a strategic place in that part of the world to protect their interests, expand their trading partners and show the world they were a power to be reckoned with in spreading democracy. So even though the annexation of the Philippines was views by some as doing the same things as some of the other major countries, the Americans always viewed it as a short term solution to educate the people, help them establish themselves to self rule and to allow them time to prepare to protect themselves from other enemies.…
- 921 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
and Spain met in Paris on October 1, 1898 to make a treaty that would bring an end to the Spanish- American war after six months of fighting. The treaty is called The Treaty Of Paris. In the Treaty, The United States paid Spain 20 million dollars for the Philippines. Puerto Rico and Guam were signed over to America, and Spain also gave up Cuba.…
- 558 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
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…
- 322 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
• America went into the Spanish-American war to protect and guarantee their success in trade with islands controlled by Spain…
- 673 Words
- 3 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
Naturally Spain was not a fan of United States actions. Spain declared war on the United States on April 24, 1898. United States responded by declaring war the next day. On May 1, 1898, United States forces destroyed an anchored Spanish fleet in a leisurely morning in the Philippians engagement that cost only seven American seamen wounded. It was safe to say Manila itself was occupied by U.S. troops by August. There was an elusive Spanish Caribbean fleet located in Santiago harbor in Cuba by U.S. reconnaissance. A U.S. landed on the east coast of Santiago and slowly advanced to attack this fleet. The Spanish fleet tried to retreat westward was under heavy fire and ultimately surrender to the U.S. virtually ending the war. By the Treaty of Paris (signed Dec. 10, 1898), Spain renounced all claim to Cuba, ceded Guam and Puerto Rico to the United States, and transferred sovereignty over the Philippines to the United States for $20,000,000.…
- 1122 Words
- 5 Pages
Powerful Essays -
While Americans did not usually claim that they anted to maintain rule of other territories for American Profit, it was a factor. Some saw the Pacific Ocean as the key to thriving trade in the future; by holding claim to that ocean though ruling the Philippines they would hold “the power that rules the world.” (Doc 5) The country was also needed to meet the US’ growing production demands (Doc 2) For the States to turn the land they acquired over to France or Germany – who were commercial rivals to the US- would harm their own trade. (Doc 3)…
- 425 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
During the late 19th and early 20th century, the United States emerged as victors of the Spanish American war. As a result, they received territorial concession on behalf of the Spanish. These territorial gains were the start of an era of American imperialism and expansion. This expansion was both a continuation and a departure from previous foreign policy and expansion.…
- 798 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
Arguments from the Anti-Imperialist League were very strong and influential against the takeover of the Philippines by the United States. Anti-Imperialists denounced subjugation and suppression of what should be free people as a debauchery of American principles. The takeover of the Philippines went against the American belief system that it is derived from the Declaration of Independence (WW Norton Publishing, 2007). This action created a grievous heresy of the United States. The choices and actions the United States were enforcing were negatively representing the country, and in conflict with the “self-governing” principle of the United States, because a country supporting self-directed government should not be taking over a country against its will. Stated by Abraham Lincoln, “No man is good enough to govern another man without that man’s consent.” (WW Norton publishing, 2007). The Anti-Imperialistic League deplored these despotic and abhorrent actions in the Philippines. By taking over the Filipinos and forcing their way…
- 1008 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays -
During the late nineteenth century America was a growing and prosperous country. The Civil War had ended and the United States was once again unified. As the United States gained more money and power, it looked to overseas trade to monopolize on their raw materials. The United States began to trade with Japan, China Latin America and other countries to acquire these distant resources. In order to protect these investments, the U.S. had place upon these foreign countries their political influence. The United States went to war with Spain in order to protect their investments. In the Spanish-American War the United States gained control of the Philippians, Cuba, and Puerto Rico all three territories were filled with coveted materials. While many agreed with America becoming an imperialist country, many believed it was against America’s best interest to do so.…
- 841 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
Something they felt behind other countries thus far. The Spanish - American War ended with the Treaty of Paris signed. The treaty granted independence of Cuba, along with Spain handing over Guam and Puerto Rico to the United States. They United States also paid Spain 20 million dollars for control of the Philippines.…
- 413 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
President McKinley thought it was wise to spread the fortune and good interests of Americans to the Philippine nations. The Americans took them all to educate the Filipinos, and uplift and civilize them, and Christianize them. It seemed that McKinley’s sole purpose for the brutal treatment of the Filipinos was to civilize them. It was this idea that was presented and accepted by the American public. It was not accepted so lightly by the Filipino people. The idea of a country across the Pacific ruling them was unthinkable. They rose in revolt against the United States. Everything…
- 417 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
2. Why did the United States hold on to the Philippines? Millions of American dollars were invested in improving the nation’s infrastructure and education. Moreover the 2 nations had established important economic ties including trades in sugar.…
- 663 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays