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Chris Clarici
Susan Khan
March 8, 2018
The Calculated American Acquisition of the Philippines
Until the late nineteenth century, the United States, unlike European powers such as
Great Britain and France, refrained from colonizing overseas territories. In 1898, however, the
United States acquired four territories – Cuba, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines – despite
widespread domestic concerns regarding the dangers of “foreign entanglements.” Said
acquisition was accomplished through the Spanish-American war of 1898. Indeed, while many
questioned the prudence of an imperialist agenda, the potential for new markets, wealth, and
broadened global power motivated the United States to intervene in non-domestic conflicts.
After defeating Spanish forces in the Philippines and taking control of the territory, the United
States was forced to decide whether to annex the island or to allow Spain to retain possession.
The United states decided to annex the territory. President William McKinley announced this
decision in an interview with General James Rusling; while making this announcement,
moreover, he declares the decision to be motivated by humanitarian – rather than political or
economic – causes. Despite President McKinley’s statements in that interview, though, the
United States avidly sought to colonize the Philippines, as evidenced by the following: its active
resolution to enter the Chinese market through the territory; its investment in Filipino
development; and its engagement in a costly, high-casualty, three-year long war.
The United States’ decision to annex the Philippines was highly motivated by the island’s
proximity and access to Chinese markets. By the end of the nineteenth century, China’s
population was approximately 450 million. As many U.S. markets became saturated with certain
goods, moreover, entrance into a foreign market — particularly one with so many consumers —
brought the prospect of significantly greater profits. According to one source, the establishment
of free trade between China and the United States would give American businesses a competitive
edge, as “American companies were producing higher-quality goods than other countries, and
were doing so more efficiently and less expensively” (OpenStax Chapter 22.3). Additionally,
other global powers had already began taking advantage of Eastern territories to themselves
access the Chinese market. The issue was discussed in Congress, with Senator Alfred Beveridge
of Indiana making the following statement: “China is our natural customer. . . [England,
Germany and Russia] have moved nearer to China by securing permanent bases on her borders”
(Primary Source, Senator Alfred Beveridge Speech). The United States and China, however,
were roughly six-thousand miles apart, separated by the Atlantic Ocean, and had wildly different
cultures; accordingly, the United States required an Eastern access point to enable such trade.
