Should the United States Have Annexed the Philippines?
Mini-Q Sample Essay: #1
Dear Senators:
The US had to make a hard decision. ln 1898 America beat Spain in a war and made
them leave the Philippines. The Filipinos wanted their independence but the United States
decided to hold on to the islands. The United States has done the right thing for three reasons:
the Filipinos aren't ready, other countries might have taken over, and it is God's plan.
The first reason the US should annex is because the Filipinos simply are not ready to
govern themselves. As Albert Beveridge has said, they were like children who were not old
enough to be on their own (Doc B). President McKinley agreed that they weren't ready to rule
themselves (Doc D). Both men were right. lf you put kids out of the house too soon they will fall
apart, even die.
The next reason to annex the Philippines is there are colonizing countries nearby that
could grab them if America left. Beveridge and McKinley mention England, France, Germany,
and even Japan (Docs B and D). lt would be like putting a little baby in the water and waiting
for sharks to eat him up. The sharks would get fat and America would stay too thin. Another
reason is that the United States needs to compete with European powers that already have
colonies in the Pacific. By annexing the Philippines the US can show more power and strength.
A third reason to annex is that it is God's Plan. As Albert Beveridge said, "Wonderfully
has God guided us!" (Doc B). This quote shows me that God planned for the US to conquer and
control the Filipinos. This was the idea of Manifest Destiny. America was meant to grow. God
knew this and wanted America to annex other countries. It was America’s duty to civilize the
Filipino’s and educate them on America’s ideas of liberty (Doc. B and D). You don't say no to
God.
Although it is sad soldiers on both sides died to make this happen, sometimes you have to
say, "Just do it!" The Filipinos aren't ready, other countries might take over, and it is God's plan.
These are three good reasons to annex the Philippines. I think the United States has done the
right thing!
Mini-Q Sample Essay: #2
Dear fellow Senators:
The American eagle has landed in the Philippines. ln the first days we were not sure if the
US was there to liberate or occupy the Filipino people. At first, it seemed like liberation. The
Philippines had been a Spanish colony for several centuries. The Americans chased out the Spanish,
and the future seemed clear. The leader of the Filipino revolutionaries, Emilio Aguinaldo, was
ready to march into the Philippine capital with the US and claim Filipino independence. But it
didn't happen. We had second thoughts. Now the US has to stay. Should this have happened? Is
the US doing the right thing by annexing this island country? The answer, my fellow Senators, is
a strong "Yes" for three reasons: the Filipinos are not ready for self-government, the Filipinos
would be gobbled up by some other country, and it is God's design.
The United States was correct to annex the Philippines because the Filipinos are not
capable of self-rule. Senator Albert Beveridge of Indiana argues the point well. Yes, he says,
government should be by the consent of the governed, but only when the people are mature
enough to govern themselves. He said “we govern our children without their consent” (Doc. B).
Like children the Filipinos need our protection. President William McKinley made a similar point. lf
the United States left the Philippines to themselves the result would be "anarchy and misrule"
(Doc. D) McKinley said it was our duty to educate and civilize the Philippine people. Beveridge
and McKinley were right. The Philippines needed more time. After all, the American colonies were
governed by the British for 150 years before they were ready for independence.
Furthermore, colonizing countries like England, France, and Germany were waiting to
pounce on the Philippines if the United States should decide to leave. Gentlemen, McKinley was
correct when he said that it would be foolish to turn the Philippines over to our trade rivals in
Asia (Doc. D). Senator Beveridge also mentions that Japan was "hungering" for the islands (Doc
B). lf the Philippines were not ready to govern themselves, it would have been unwise to let
them fall into the hands of a country that would treat them badly. You don't turn children over
to wolves.
Finally, the US was right to keep the Philippines because it is God's plan. Providence wants
America to grow. First it was Louisiana, then Oregon, then California. This expansion continued
with Alaska and then Hawaii. Now it is the Philippines. ls there a better religion than
Christianity? ls there a better government than democracy? lt was our manifest destiny to take
the Philippines and put it under our wing (Doc. E). ln Beveridge's simple words, "Wonderfully has
God guided us!" (Doc B). America should never say deny God.
Like all difficult matters, there are arguments against annexing the Philippines. The
American Anti-lmperialist League was right to be sad about the death of so many soldiers,
American and Filipino (Doc. A). William Jennings Bryan was right to say that the Bible does not
approve of guns and war (Doc D). But great causes are not won without paying a price. We
learned that at Valley Forge and Gettysburg. With God on our side, and the future of the islands
in our hearts, America is doing the right thing by annexing the Philippines.