US Control of Philippines
After defeating Spain in the Spanish American War in 1898, the United States gained control over the Philippines. Spain gave the U.S. control in the Treaty of Paris. Two days before the United States ratified the treaty, a fight broke out between the Filipino nationalist, who were led by Emilio Aguinaldo, and the American forces. The Philippines decided that they would rather be an independent country than switch ruling countries. The war lasted around three years and over 20,000 Philippine soldiers died and around 4,200 Americans. 200,000 Filipino civilians died from disease.
Most Americans saw controlling the Philippines a desire to have commercial opportunities in Asia. Americans feared that the Philippines could not rule themselves and if they tried they would get taken over by another power like Germany. The U.S. wanted to protect and prepare the Philippines for their future independence. President McKinley didn't think they were as smart as we were. The U.S. sent in troops to enforce what they thought was best for the Philippines. It did not get out to all of the islands so when the Philippines declared independence the country wasn't all on board but they were granted independence anyway.
Through all of the struggles of ruling the Philippines its present day government has turned out much like ours. It is ruled by a president. Their government has three branches; Legislative, Judicial, and Executive. They are run with many of the same things in their constitution as we are.
The first picture is showing the U.S. expressing their Nationalism. Saying we are better and higher up than the Philippines. The second picture is a painting of the United States vs. the Philippines war.
Works Cited:
"History of the Philippines (1898–1946)." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 30 Sept. 2013. Web. 07 Oct. 2013. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Philippines_(1898–1946)>.
"The Philippine-American War, 1899–1902." U.S. Department of State. Office of the Historian, n.d. Web. 7 Oct. 2013. <http://history.state.gov/milestones/1899-1913/War>;.
Comments
Good info! Be sure to include personal thoughts however.