Some opportunities only come once in a lifetime. In the early 1900s, the United States had a major source of debate: the retention of the Philippines (Dudley 42). The only propitious side to this debate is to retain the Philippines as an American territory. The Philippines are much too valuable to simply be abandoned. This group of islands is a crucial point in the expansion of the United States and its trade. Albert J. Beveridge was a leader in the opposition of the anti-imperialist movement: “The Philippines give us a base at the door of all the East.” (Dudley 42). He thought that these islands, which are much closer to China and the East, would be a key to the successful expansion of the United States of America (Dudley 42). Mr. Beveridge understood how the retention of the Philippines could make trade with China much easier (Dudley 42). …show more content…
The United States government cannot abandon the Philippines because it is too much of a valuable location (Dudley 42). If the Philippines are abandoned now, the US will not be able to get them back without a war (Dudley 42). If the US retains this critical point on the globe but “...it proves to be a mistake to hold it,” then it can be abandoned (Dudley 42). Within Albert J. Beveridge’s speech to the Senate in January of 1900, he stated, “To-day we have one of the three great ocean possessions of the globe … within hail of India, shoulder to shoulder with China, richer in its own resources than any equal body of land on the entire globe.” (Dudley 43). Albert Beveridge’s purpose in stating this was that the position of the Philippines on the globe makes it a valuable factor in expanding the rule of the United States (Dudley 43).
“To tax far-off colonists without their consent is the expansion of the policy of [British king] George III, not the expansion of the patriotism of George Washington.”(Dudley
Economic self-interest was more effective in driving American foreign policy because the U.S wanted to protect their property. As described in War and other Essays The U.S needed to choose not to be rulers and to let Filipinos and Spanish Americans live their own lives without ...
Further more, Interventionism was continued where it was most convenient; in regard to colonial interests, trade opportunities, ensuring peace overseas and the repayment of foreign debt. Although President Harding claimed we see no part in directing the destinies of the world', it seems that a foreign policy of interventionism was needed in directing the destiny of the United States that was a different matter. Colonial interests were claimed in Alaska, the Philipines, Central America and Hawaii. In 1921 it signed the Four Power Treaty with Britain, France and Japan and then the Nine Power Treaty agreeing to respect China's independence but allowing them equal trading rights and so the ability to abuse China's economy.
Americans were interested in further expansion and looked to the weak Spanish provinces of East and West Florida. The Spanish were reluctant to give up what is now Florida, but in the end they worked out an agreement called the Adams Onis Treaty. In this essay I will describe how the Americans eventually got these provinces, the set backs of the signing of the treaty, and how it effected the economic growth of our nation.
senator. In Beveridge’s speech “The March of the Flag” (1898) he argued that the Philippines should be Annexed into the United States in order to better the lives of the indigenous people and establish new markets of trade. During this era, West Indians and Pacific Islanders were looked down upon and considered “savages.” Therefore, Beveridge believed that Pacific Islanders, specifically Filipinos, could not govern themselves, and it was America’s Anglo-Saxon duty to colonize and save the people of the Philippines. Beveridge supports his argument by referencing Thomas Jefferson, who he called, “the first Imperialist of the Republic,” highlighting the Louisiana Purchase and how the great expansion West ward, is no different from the expansion overseas. Beveridge’s ability to state his argument, and compare his argument with historical events solidifies his
The first reason the United States should have annexed the Philippines is because it is our duty to as a country to spread the values of democracy overseas. For example, as stated here in Albert J. Beveridge’s campaign speech he says, “ Do we owe no duty to the world?… it is ours to save for liberty and civilization (Doc B).” He is saying that it is our duty as a sovereign nation to help an uncivilized nation modernize, industrialize, . another example, is from William Mcki...
After temporarily resolving the problems of Reconstruction and Industrialization, Americans began to resume the course of expansion. The horrors of the Civil War had interrupted the original Manifest Destiny that began in the 1840s. Now, as pioneers settled the last western frontiers, expansionists looked yet farther to the west -- toward Asia and the Pacific. American ships had long been active in the Pacific. The New England whaling fleets scoured the ocean in search of their prey. As ships crossed the vast ocean to trade in Asia, islands in the Pacific became important stops for coal, provisions, and repairs. In the South Pacific, the American navy negotiated with awestruck natives for the rights to build bases on the islands of Midway and Samoa. This practice had been going on for a while. The Hawaiian Islands, which lie closest to the American mainland, had long been an important stop for the Pacific fleet.
The idea of spheres of influence, which was an agreement of nations to respect a neighboring nation’s culture, accompanied by an Open Door Trade policy, which allowed all nations to participate in international transactions, became a prominent factor of foreign relations with the Asian continent. As stated by President Theodore Roosevelt in his annual message to Congress on December 6, 1904, “We would interfere with them only in the last resort… their iability or unwillingness to do justice at home and abroad had violated ... rights...” (Document E). However, it would be appropriate to say that the United States became power hungry and chose to gain authority and/or mass amounts of influence over other, smaller, rising nations. Examples of this can be found within the Foraker Act of 1900, which restrained the Puerto Rican government and limited rights of the citizens within Puerto Rico, the Treaty of Paris of 1898, which ended the spanish-American War and granted the United States over former Spanish islands, and the Portsmouth Conference of 1905, which the United States made itself the mediator of power and land concluding the Russo-Japanese War, which was spurred over land disputes. The statement “...only the vindication of right, of human right, of which we are only a single champion”, by President Woodrow Wilson to Congress on April 2, 1917,
Roosevelt's corollary to the Monroe Doctrine set up the U.S. as a policeman in the western hemisphere. Under TR, the U.S. empire extended to include the Philippines, Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico. He also oversaw the building of the Panama Canal, a tremendous feat that enhanced U.S. commerce immeasurably. On the other side, Wilson was determined to revise the imperialist practices of earlier administrations, promising independence to the Philippines and making Puerto Ricans American citizens. But Wilson's own policies could sometimes be high-handed.
Section I,2. Analyze the consequences of American rule in Puerto Rico, Cuba and the Philippines. Did the citizens prosper? Enjoy freedom? Accept American rule? Comment on the consequences for the United States with regard to the statement made by Eric Foner in the text, “Thus, two principles central to American freedom since the War of Independence – no taxation without representation and government based on the consent of the governed – were abandoned when it came to the nation’s new possessions.
The scene is set; America is the great power in the western hemisphere. Post Spanish-American War, America is faced with a dilemma of annexing the Philippines. In the winter of 1899 following the annexation of the Philippines, America had a problem. Filipinos had been fighting for independence from Spain and did not want to be seceded (83). Despite the Filipino objection, the United States displayed their assertion on the land. In conflict, both the Filipinos and American had many meetings with death. There were consequences and repercussions from invoking the American power on this foreign land. The American victory in the Spanish-American War helped propel the nation. Thesis: Although met with conflict from the natives, the
The United States of America has never been content with stagnation. The landmass of the Thirteen Colonies was enough to rival that of the Mother country from which they separated. The forefathers believed that it was the manifest destiny of this nation to eventually claim the expansion from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. By 1890, nearly a hundred years following the original claim of Manifest Destiny, the land that was once open, was now under American control. But no sooner was the Great American Frontier closed, than was the door to East Asian expansion opened with the great gold key of American diplomacy. In a world where imperialism was contagious, and cartographers had to work around the clock to keep up with an ever-changing geopolitical landscape, the United States seized the opportunity to establish herself as a significant world power. With great expansionist minds at her helm, such as Theodore Roosevelt and Howard Taft the United States began to grow beyond her border to claim stake in this wide-open world. This new expansionism of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century was a different institution than its early to mid nineteenth century counterpart. Still, the drive to exercise the sovereignty of the United State and to propel itself over the world’s stage was the same then as it was in the time of Thomas Jefferson. In order to understand this assertion, attention must be given to three levels of analysis. First, the similarities that exist between the drive and purpose of old and new expansion must be taken into account. Second, the differences in the global political scene must be considered. Finally, there exits differences in the means by which expansion occurred.
Giving away the Philippines would have been bad business and kept the same issue continue. The Philippines needed some help in government, so we took them in to guide them down a good path. During the Filipino Revolution, they wanted to get away from Spanish rule. The United States helped them defeat Spain and annexed them to help them out, but they are still mad. This doesn’t make any sense since we just helped them. Who is really making a big deal out of things? Although the Filipinos could have been fine on their own, they still needed guidance in the right direction like away from
...erall, Great Britain wanted to rule colonies to benefit themselves and only concerned for their own welfare and not that of the American people.
Wolff, Leon.? Little Brown Brother:? How the United States Purchased and Pacified the Philippine Islands at the Century?s Turn.? New York:? Doubleday and Company, 1961.
There were several policies in place at the time, some which were put into place before the war, some during the war, and some after. The ratification of the annexation process was long and difficult. There were debates as to how to treat the Filipino people. One suggestion was to treat the Filipinos as dependents, and not citizens, like the Native Americans came to be treated. Many of the imperialists believed that the Filipinos were savages and harsh policies would give America control. The anti-imperialists were not exactly sure whether to treat them as peers or to set them free. I would treat them as equals, as normal people, as they are like everyone else. At the time they might not have been as technologically advanced as we were, and their government may have seemed primitive to ours. I think we should have worked with them to help create a government, rather than occupy and just take over.