victory in the Spanish-American War, that the dedication of the U.S. government to imperialistic expansion became evident. In October 1898, a conference was held to determine the fate of the Philippines. The Americans were given three choices: to hand the islands back to Spain, to give the Philippines its independence, or to annex the territory. While many anti-imperialist Americans were against annexation, President William McKinley believed that it was God’s will for the Americans to uplift and civilize and Christianize them. McKinley believed that Filipinos were unfit for self-government; he also believed if the United States failed to annex the Philippines, it would leave a power vacuum in which Germany or other rivals might be quick to fill. On February 6, 1899, the Treaty of Paris was approved by the United States Congress and was signed by McKinley the next day; the Treaty of Paris resulted in the United States gaining possession of the islands of Puerto Rico, Cuba, Guam, and the Philippines
victory in the Spanish-American War, that the dedication of the U.S. government to imperialistic expansion became evident. In October 1898, a conference was held to determine the fate of the Philippines. The Americans were given three choices: to hand the islands back to Spain, to give the Philippines its independence, or to annex the territory. While many anti-imperialist Americans were against annexation, President William McKinley believed that it was God’s will for the Americans to uplift and civilize and Christianize them. McKinley believed that Filipinos were unfit for self-government; he also believed if the United States failed to annex the Philippines, it would leave a power vacuum in which Germany or other rivals might be quick to fill. On February 6, 1899, the Treaty of Paris was approved by the United States Congress and was signed by McKinley the next day; the Treaty of Paris resulted in the United States gaining possession of the islands of Puerto Rico, Cuba, Guam, and the Philippines