American
Imperialism
in the
Philippines
The U.S. became involved in the
Philippines almost by accident.
• In the ‘yellow journalism’ and ‘Remember
the Maine’ rush to get the Spanish out of
Cuba, the U.S. launched a naval attack
against the Spanish fleet in the Philippines
• After destroying the Spanish fleet,
American soldiers landed in the
Philippines
Americans and Filipinos Fighting
Together
• Filipinos, who had been fighting the Spanish for
years, saw an opportunity after the defeat of the
Spanish navy
• Led by a freedom fighter named Aguinaldo (who
was living in exile and was actually returned to
the Philippines by the U.S. navy) the Filipinos
attacked the Spanish imperial government
• The U.S., eager to continue its defeat of Spain,
joined the freedom fighters and kicked Spain out
After the Spanish?
• Spain surrendered to America (Treaty of
Paris)
• McKinley faced a choice- what to do with
the Philippines?
– Give them back to Spain? Yuck!
– Leave them alone? But they have no
government!
– Hmmm…
Whispers in McKinley’s Ears
• “Think of the $ to be made from a trading base in
Asia,” whispered the businessmen.
• “Think of the advantage as a military outpost,”
whispered the military.
• “Think of your chance to civilize and uplift this
poor race,” whispered the religious leaders,
white supremacists, and advocates of spreading
democracy.
“I’ll Take It,” Says McKinley!
Aguinaldo Felt Betrayed
• Said that the U.S. had promised
freedom for the Philippines
• He rose up against the U.S. military in
the Philippines
• A brutal war resulted
– The U.S. placed Filipinos in
concentration camps to defeat guerrilla
forces
– 20,000 Filipinos died
– War cost U.S. $400 million
– U.S. eventually won
Many of the American Soldiers Sent
to fight in the Philippines were black
• Do we see the irony here?
• Some black soldiers were so offended that
they defected to the Filipino cause and
fought against America