Philippines Imperialism Dbq

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The decision whether or not to annex the Philippines was a huge subject of issue in United States history. America was a country that supported the idea of imperialism at the time. Imperialism is the desire to become a world power and the political and economic domination of a strong nation over a weaker one. Although the United States would gain many benefits from the annexation of the Philippines, they would also be going against basic American ethics that they had established many years before. The issue was whether to inflict American rule onto the Phillipines and annex them or leave them as an independent country and let them govern themselves. The annexation of the Philippines was not a good choice on behalf of the United States. A reason …show more content…
The opposite side believes that governing a country without their approval is acceptable. In Document B, Albert Beveridge states the following in his campaign speech, “The opposition tells us that we ought to govern a people without their consent. I answer, The rule… that all just government derives its authority from the consent of the governed, applies only to those who are capable of self-government” (Document B). Beveridge is saying that the Philippines are not capable of governing themselves so America has to intervene in their government and save them from Spanish rule. Beveridge thinks that it is the United State’s duty to establish American civilization and government in the Philippines. The annexation of the Philippines is unjust behavior of America. In Document C, President William McKinley states four unreasonable arguments for annexing the Philippines. One of his arguments states “that we could not give (the Philippines) back to Spain ⎼⎼ that would be cowardly and dishonorable” (Document C). The justifications that the opposing side has for annexing the Philippines also include: by handing over the Philippines to France and Germany would be bad business on America’s part, the Philippines are unfit to govern themselves, and that it was America’s place to educate and Christianize the Filipinos. These purposes to annex the Philippines are wrongful …show more content…
The country that fought for its freedom, wanted to take the freedom from other countries. America should not have annexed the Philippines and let them become a independent country on their own and established their own way of government and life since the country just gained independence and freedom from Spain. The United States should have given the Philippines an opportunity to prosper into a strong country similar to how America had done itself. The reasons for annexing the Philippines were unjust and showed that the idea of imperialism was not
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