Colonial Rule

Although the term “Manifest Destiny” began in earlier times and referred to the expansion of North America through Indian and Mexican lands, the term had a reprise at the end of the 19th Century (Wikipedia, 2009). At this time, the term began to refer to overseas expansion, rather than the prior definition, and expand became a tenet of the Republican Party.

With the sinking of the USS Maine in Cuba, America was drawn into the fray between Cuban insurrectionists and Spain. Spain was defeated and Cuba came under US protection by way of the Platt Amendment which meant a US presence in the country, including having American troops stationed at a naval base in Guantanamo Bay. (Jones, 2008)

As part of the armistice signed by Spain, Spain cedes Puerto Rico and Guam to the United States. As part of the agreement the US agreed to pay $20 million for the Philippines.
Unfortunately, the Philippinos were not enamored of the idea of foreign rule and refused to give up to a colonial power. (Jones, 2008) The American forces utilized brute force against the Filipino people, including the killing of hundreds of women and children, on Samar Island when General Jacob Smith ordered that the island be turned into a “howling wilderness.” (Abinales, 2006) The US forces prohibited any material they considered to be seditious, whether it be in print, plays or the display of native flags. Any additional dissent was dealt with quickly and efficiently by the police force put in place by the Americans.

The next task for the Americans was governing their new colony. The US Congress provided a small sum to support the colonization, but it was up to the colony itself to generate revenue from its resources. Some American legislators opposed free trade from the Philippines insisting that this would be detrimental to the revenues from their own constituents’ crops.

The Americans were wise in their recruitment of Filipinos to participate in the government structure. These collaborators formed the foundation of the Federalista Party, which was in favor of full American control. (Abinales, 2006) Another group, formed by local elites, started to become politically powerful. The Americans recognized their powerbase and joined forces with this group called the Nationalista Party. (Abinales, 2006) The first Philippine election saw a victory by this party and the beginning of the self-rule of the Philippines.

References

Abinales, Patricio N. July 30, 2006. The Philippines Free Press Online. Re-constructing colonial Philippines. Retrieved July 14, 2009 from http://philippinesfreepress.wordpress.com
http://philippinesfreepress.wordpress.com/2006/07/30/re-constructing-colonial-philippines-1900-1910/

Jones, J., Wood, P., Borstelmann, T., May, E. and Ruiz, V.(2008). Created equal: a
social and political history of the United States (brief 2nd ed.). New York,
Pearson Longman.

Wikipedia, July 10, 20098. Retrieved July 14, 2009 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
%20%20%09Manifest_Destiny#cite_note-30

Colonial Rule statue image Retrieved July 19, 2009 from colonial+rule&oid=66be9521becfcfc2&fr2=&fusr=Tates+In+New...&no=87&tt=6445&b=73&ni=18&sigr=11i7lqkb3&sigi=11gdcdh84&sigb=13dd7atq6