Transcript Chapter 5 Lesson 2 Day 2

He believes that it is wrong because, like
the Americans before them, the Filipinos
are fighting for their independence.
However, he knows since the United States
has committed to the war, the nation must
see it through.
Do you agree with him? Why or why not?
The War
The Philippines In early May 1898, an American naval
squadron under Commodore George Dewey destroyed the
aging Spanish fleet in Manila Bay and seized the city of
Manila, capital of the Philippines.
Cuba Destroying Spain’s fleet was also a key aim of
Americans on the second front of the war—Cuba. To do
so, the United States landed troops near Santiago, the site
of powerful guns that protected the Spanish fleet, in
Santiago Harbor. After the Americans took a village near
Santiago and a nearby hill, the fleet retreated from the
harbor and was destroyed by American warships.
What were the two fronts on which
American forces battled in the SpanishAmerican War?
The Philippines and Cuba
What was the main strategy of the American
forces on each front of the war?
Their goal was to destroy the Spanish fleet in the
Philippines to keep it from sailing east to attack
the United States and to destroy the Spanish fleet
in Cuba and thus cut off Spain’s ability to resupply
its forces there.
Annexation and Expansion
Potential Overseas Empire With the defeat of Spain, the United States was given the
opportunity to acquire an overseas empire. Cuba, the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto
Rico all came under American control.
The Question of the Philippines The Philippines did not want to be annexed. The
debate pitted those who favored an American empire against those who insisted that the
nation stay true to its republican ideals.
Supporters and Opponents The United States Navy would be able to build a base
there, and merchant ships could stop there on the way to East Asia. As a colony, the
Philippines would supply raw materials and consume American-manufactured goods.
Treaty of Paris McKinley ultimately decided to annex the islands. On December 10,
1898, the United States and Spain signed the Treaty of Paris. Under the treaty, Cuba
became an independent nation, and the United States acquired Puerto Rico and Guam
and agreed to pay Spain $20 million for the Philippines.
Platt Amendment Cuban independence came with a price. American troops would be
withdrawn from the island only after it accepted certain duties and restrictions spelled
out in the Platt Amendment.
Background
Carnegie argued that the cost of an empire
far outweighed the economic benefits it
provided. Gompers worried that
competition from cheap Filipino labor
would drive down American wages.
Addams, Clemens, and others believed
imperialism violated basic American
principles.
What were the military and economic
arguments for annexation of the Philippines?
The islands would provide another naval base in
the Pacific. Merchant ships could resupply there,
and the colony would provide a market for
American goods. Students should recognize that
these arguments closely mirror the motivating
factors for U.S. imperialism that they learned
about in the previous lesson