Annexation Of The Philippines In The 19th Century

In the early twentieth century, the United States set its eyes upon Asia. It was looking for an Open Door Constituency trading policy that was laid out by U.S politicians such as, Teddy Roosevelt, John Hay, Henry Cabot Lodge, and Alfred T. Mahan. After failed attempts to trade with the Japanese during the mid nineteenth century, the United States gained a foothold in Asia by annexing the Philippines, which it had gained in the Treaty of Paris (1898) from Spain as a result of the Spanish defeat in the Spanish-American War. The people of the Philippines were excited, at first, about annexation because they wanted U.S liberation, protection, and freedom. The United States Government received push back from its own citizens for going to the Philippines. Created in the wake …show more content…
These men fought against the colonial powers of Spain and the United States, which led to a guerrilla war known as the Philippines Insurrection between the Filipino “Rebels” and U.S forces. The Massacre at Balangiga became a turning point for American troops who were angry at the killing of 36 American soldiers who were attacked at their base in Balangiga by Filipino rebels. Race played a part in the killings that took place during the war. Americans thought they were racially superior to the Filipinos because of excepted racial theories and pseudoscience. During the War 300,000-400,000 Filipinos were killed, mainly due to disease, but there were large numbers killed in battle as well. Although the United States brought violence with them to the Philippines, they also set up neo-colonial framework by building up the infenstructor of the islands, including roads, and schools. Ultimately, the U.S put down the rebels and took control of the islands; this along with the land gains in Hawaii, Midway, and Samoa, the U.S had become a large Pacific