Annex The Philippines Dbq Analysis

In the late 19th century and early 20th century, the United States went to great lengths to expand its influence overseas. Fueled by the belief in imperialism, America expanded its global powers to Central America to places such as Puerto Rico, Panama, and the Philippines. The issue of whether or not the U.S should annex the Philippines struck a controversy and led to varying opinions of U.S expansion among Americans. Different understandings of America's identity as "the land of the equal" as opposed to a superior power among other countries, defined America's contrasting views of U.S overseas expansion.

Americans in desperate need to justify U.S overseas expansion turned to religion to support their claims that the U.S must annex the Philippines. Political leaders such as President William McKinley made accusations that after they "prayed to Almighty God for light and guidance (Doc 3)" it was revealed that the U.S must annex the Philippines in order to "educate the Filipinos, and uplift and civilize and Christianize them...by God's grace (Doc 3)." Politicians, in need to unify American …show more content…
The continuation of U.S overseas expansion further complicate the war between Spanish and the U.S. By participating in this war African Americans believed that they would be able to advance their social status within America, and "compact the races into a more compact brotherhood ...[where White people will]...unloose themselves from the bondage of racial prejudice (Doc 1)." The African American identity as a suppressed people helped shape their views and bring about their support for U.S overseas expansion. Their identity shaped them to view overseas expansion, not as a way to assert American dominance or religious obligation, but as a way to free themselves from the ongoing suppression they were experiencing at the