War with the Philippines

Hopes of the Philippines1898 – Filipino General

Emilio Aguinaldo claimed Philippine independence

McKinleyInitially said it would “be criminal

aggression” to annex the PhilippinesBut changed his mind

Why?Summarize his four main points on your

paperWhat is his justification?

McKinley’s Statement:When next I realized that the Philippines

had dropped into our laps I confess I did not know what to do with them....I walked the floor of the White House night after night until midnight; and I am not ashamed to tell you, gentlemen, that I went down on my knees and prayed Almighty God for light and guidance....And one night late it came to me this way....

McKinley’s Statement, Continued…

(1) that we could not give them back to Spain--that would be cowardly and dishonorable;

(2) That we could not turn them over to France or Germany--our commercial rivals in the Orient--that would be bad business and discreditable;

(3) That we could not leave them to themselves--they were unfit for self-government--and they would soon have anarchy and misrule worse than Spain's war;

(4) That there was nothing left for us to do but to take them all, and to educate the Filipinos, and uplift and civilize and Christianize them as our fellow men for whom Christ also died. President McKinley on the Philippines

The War Begins

Feb 4, 1899 – Fighting erupted between American and Filipino soldiers

Congress voted on whether to declare the Philippines independentTie-breaking voteBill was defeated – war instead of

independence

The Scope of the War

America hoped the war would be quick

It wasn’t70,000 American

troops ended up fighting in the war

In response, Filipinos adopted guerilla tactics

American ActionsAmericans used harsh tactics:Villages were burnedCivilians were imprisoned or killedTorture was used

Samar IslandRetaliation for a Filipino raid on an

American garrisonGeneral Jacob Smith told his men:

Turn the island into a “howling wilderness” so that “even birds could not live there…kill all persons…capable of bearing arms”

Samar Island OutcomeNews reports of the atrocities at Samar

Island led to public outcryCongress held hearings into what had

happenedAmount killed is still unknown

End of the War

War was officially declared over in 1902Fighting continued for several years

More than 4,000-5,000 Americans diedMore than 200,000 Filipinos died

After the WarU.S. turns control of the Philippines over

to the Filipinos in 1907 and pledge to grant the country its independence in 1916

They eventually got independence in 1946

Changing Views on Imperialism

Anti-Imperialist League The League organized against

American imperialismMark Twain:

“We have pacified some thousands of the islanders and buried them; destroyed their fields; burned their villages, and turned their widows and orphans out-of-doors; we have acquired property in the three hundred concubines and other slaves, and hoisted our protecting flag over that swag. And so, by these Providences of God – and the phrase is the governments, not mine – we are a world power.”

Attitudes about Imperialism Some Americas were extremely supportive of

imperialism and wanted to extend America’s reach throughout the world

Senator Beveridge in 1900:

“Mr. President, the times call for candor. The Philippines are ours forever….And just beyond the Philippines are China’s illimitable markets. We will not retreat from either…

The Pacific is our ocean…China is our natural customer. The Philippines give us a base at the door of all the East. It has been charged that our conduct in the war has been cruel. Senators, it has been the reverse…Senators must remember that we are not dealing with Americans or Europeans. We are dealing with Orientals.”

Why did some Americans support imperialism and others

oppose it?

Source(Pro or Anti-Imperialism?)

Main Characters/ Symbols

How America & the Philippines are portrayed

Message of the cartoon

Clues for Cartoon Analysis

Additional clues William McKinley was President at the

start of the Philippine War. He supported expansion and thought it was his duty to civilize the Filipinos.

Pro-Imperialism Magazines: Judge and Puck

Anti-Imperialism Magazines: Life and The World