For nearly 333 years Spain controlled the Philippines as of her colonial Empire. The Pilipino people made multiple attempts to free themselves. They failed. In January 1889 the USS Maine was ordered to Cuba to protect US interests. On February 16th 1889, shortly after her arrival, the USS Maine exploded in Havana Harbor killing over 250 men. The US was quick to blame Spain for the explosion. US citizens were whipped into an Anti-Spanish hysteria. Despite President McKinley’s desire to avoid war, the yellow press continued to feed American Citizens anti Spanish news. Though President …show more content…
Lincoln stated that “No man is good enough to govern another man without their consent”. (Fordham, 1997) The US did not have the Philippines consent to govern them. “We had full knowledge that they were fighting for their freedom”.(Bryan, 1900) The US took over the Philippines without their consent, and even with the knowledge that they would fight for their freedom ,and desired independence and self-rule The US annexed the Philippines,
Annexing the Philippines was the best decision the US could have made. The annexation greatly influenced Politics and economics for both The United States and the Philippines, and expanded the geography of US territory. The annexation of the Philippines produced jobs and access to advanced medical care to the people of the Philippines, increased the United States trade, encouraged expansion of the navy, and provided protection for the Philippines and overseas US interests. Despite vigorous opposition to annexation that existed in the US, annexation was simply the best