Did the United States act as an imperial power in the Philippines?
Imperialism
Imperialism is an act of extending dominion and power, through direct territorial acquisition or rather gaining economic and political control of other areas rather than your own. It often involves the use of power either in the form of military or subtle (Imperialism 101 2). Imperialism is considered morally reprehensive, and it is used in the international propaganda to deplore or dishonor foreign policy of a challenger. Historically this form of governance was employed in China, in western Asia and Mediterranean, in the unending empire successions (The Philippines 1). It became the world most powerful over the last five centuries consuming the whole continents oppressing the native communities and obliterates entire society (Imperialism 101 3). Subjects of imperialisms become sanitized when this form of power is not ignored. Empires become commonwealths and colonies become territories, and imperial military intervention becomes the new military defense for ensuring national security and maintaining stability.
The Philippines initially was Spanish colony for close to three hundred years, and the Philippines had been struggling for independence for the year 1898 when Emilio Aguinaldo declared independence for its country. Meanwhile, the United States did not initiate any immediate action to take over Philippines (Milestones 2). Instead, they were looking for new markets for their goods, bases for refueling its ships and military bases that would help them control their trade. The leaders in the united states believed that the Philippines wanted to belong to the United States. Spain traded the Philippines to the United States for a lump sum of twenty million dollars following the Spanish-American War of 1898 (Milestones 4).
How events unfolded in the 19th and early 20th century
The treaty of Paris had conveyed Philippine power from Spain to the US in 1898, but it had not been recognized by the Filipino leaders, whose forces had taken control of archipelago except Manila (The Philippine-American War 1). The end of insurrection was declaring to end the Philippine-America war that started in 1899 but continued until 1902.
1898- the subordinate secretary of the Navy Theodore Roosevelt places US. Asiatic squadron in Honk Kong on alert after the declaration of the war. In April, Commodore George Dewey sails from honking and defeats the Spanish convoy in the Manila Bay on May 1, 1898(The Philippine-American War 3). In August, Spanish Gov. Fermín Jáudenes arranges for the surrender secretly after a mock show.
1899- Shootings began in Manila in February throughout spring, and the US navy pushed north into the Luzon Plain (The Philippine-American War 2). At the end of the year Emilio Aguinaldo, the Filipino Gen. withdrew into the northern peaks. Conventional clashes ended, but guerrilla warfare continued.
1901- According to Williams fighting continued in Samar Island as a result of bitterness and Gen. Jacob F. Smith enraged the guerrilla carnage of the US forces, and launched a vengeful operation of such undiscerning acts and he was enforced to retreat after he was court-martialed.
American civil government regarded the remainder of the guerillas as bandits in 1902, though the fighting went on. Close to one thousand guerillas were not defeated in Simeon Ola until 1903 in Batangas province and the troops rejected capture until 1906 (Williams). The final organized resistance of the US power took place between 1905 to 1906 and the insurgents burned pacified towns that contribute to their trounce. Insurgency operation began by Moro bands continued until 1913, and finally, the US gained the control of the Island and the Philippines until 1946. About 20,000 Filipino troops and 200,000 civilians died, and 4,300 Americans got lost while 1500 of them died in battle (Crafting A Useable Past 2).
Why “the national centennial” been a source of controversy in the Philippines
National Centennial festivities are meant to celebrate and build monuments to the heroes who struggled towards the independence of the Philippine Republic from Spain that had ruled it for three hundred years and from the Americans who took it over from Spain and controlled it until 1946 (Crafting A Useable Past 3). The National Centennial Commission was formed to celebrate the success of national accord and the dawn of Filipinoism that captures the Filipino spirit.
These ideologies, however, have controversies. First, the country is highly divided along ethnic and religious lines and achieving national unity has been a problem in the Philippines. The government of Philippines is said to be highly corrupt, and the common citizens suffer the most especially during the challenging economic times, for instance, the Asian Recession. The nation gained sovereignty thrice, from Spain in 1898, Japan in 1943, and from the United States in 1946(Crafting A Useable Past 3).
The decision to mark 12th June as the official day for independence has risen debates and contested the interpretations of the Filipino history. The people of Philippines still do not understand why 12th June 1998 was celebrated because they practically do not see nothing to celebrate. Their country was torn by war, and many people died during the armed struggle (Crafting a Useable Past 3). Other historians for instance Renate Constantino, defied the government’s decision for declaring 1898 as their official year of sovereignty. He observed that bicentenary celebrations targeted casualty instead the country’s sovereignty.
Works Cited
"Crafting A Useable Past: History And The Search For National Identity In The Philippines." TransEd-TransPin (TETP). N.p., 2008. Web. 18 June 2016.
"Imperialism 101." Michaelparenti.org. N.p., 2016. Web. 18 June 2016.
"Milestones: 1899–1913 - Office Of The Historian." History.state.gov. N.p., 2016. Web. 18 June 2016.
"The Philippine-American War (1899-1902) - National Commission For Culture And The Arts." National Commission for Culture and the Arts. N.p., 2015. Web. 18 June 2016.
"The Philippines." United States Imperialism. N.p., 2008. Web. 18 June 2016.
Williams, Dana. "The American Invasion Of The Philippines And The Precedents It Set".Danawilliams2.tripod.com. N.p., 2016. Web. 18 June 2016.
