NAME:
DATE:
Savage Acts
Objective:
Students will use details from the film “Savage Acts” to evaluate the Mark Twain poem “The Battle
Hymn of the Republic Brought Down to Date”.
Directions:
Watch the film “Savage Acts”. Answer the questions below. Then, respond to the prompt attached to
the poem using details from the film.
I. Film Questions
1. What was “Manifest Destiny” and how is it related to overseas expansion?
2. What occurred in 1895 in Cuba?
3. Where else in the world did the same thing occur simultaneously?
4. What prompted the US to declare war on Spain in 1898?
5. What was the deciding battle of the fighting in the Philippines?
6. According to the movie, why did the US “need” to expand? My, what an evil eagle!
7. What was the purpose of the World Fairs?
8. What were Filipinos usually depicted as in the American media?
9. Why did President McKinley decide to “keep” the Philippines?
10. According to the cartoon depicting the “Trusts” driving the carriage pulled by “militarism” and
“imperialism”, why did the US engage in expansionary policies?
11. What complaint did African-Americans have concerning the occupation of the Philippines?
12. What happened to the Philippine town of Malolos?
13. What racial term did American soldiers use to describe Filipino soldiers?
14. What was the purpose of the “Midway” that was often attached to World Fairs?
15. What/who was on display there?
16. How did the Filipinos exploit racial tension in the American army?
17. Who was David Fagin?
18. The election of 1900 signified what about the American attitude towards imperialism?
19. What was the water cure?
20. For how long did the US fight Filipino soldiers after the war was officially over in 1902?
II. “The Battle Hymn of the Republic Brought Down to Date” (1901)
The following is a parody of the “Battle Hymn of the Republic” by Mark Twain.
Assess the validity of the poem using details from the movie. However, respond from the point of view
of your debate group. Hence, if you are an imperialist, you might not agree with the sentiments of the
poem.
Mine eyes have seen the orgy of the launching of the Sword;
He is searching out the hoardings where the stranger's wealth is stored;
He hath loosed his fateful lightnings, and with woe and death has scored;
His lust is marching on.
I have seen him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps;
They have builded him an altar in the Eastern dews and damps;
I have read his doomful mission by the dim and flaring lamps—
His night is marching on.
I have read his bandit gospel writ in burnished rows of steel:
"As ye deal with my pretensions, so with you my wrath shall deal;
Let the faithless son of Freedom crush the patriot with his heel;
Lo, Greed is marching on!"
We have legalized the strumpet and are guarding her retreat;*
Greed is seeking out commercial souls before his judgement seat;
O, be swift, ye clods, to answer him! be jubilant my feet!
Our god is marching on!
In a sordid slime harmonious Greed was born in yonder ditch,
With a longing in his bosom—and for others' goods an itch.
As Christ died to make men holy, let men die to make us rich—
Our god is marching on.
* NOTE: In Manila the Government has placed a certain industry under the protection of our
flag. (M.T.)
FOR HOMEWORK TONIGHT:
Read sources 5 (“The Importance of Sea Power”). Why does Mahan advocate for a larger, more forceful
US Navy? How do colonies fit into his argument? Answer with details from the text.