Essay About Philippine American War

The Philippine War of 1899, was opposed by many Americans and was fought for three years, resulting in tons of deaths and U.S taking over Philippine Island. As an annexation of Philippine was important for U.S economy, I believe that there were other ways to take over the Philippine Island rather than a War.
There were several of reasons that led to Philippines- American War, but two of the main were the Philippine’s rejecting the Treaty of Paris and McKinley- Roosevelt belief in war. However War wasn’t something that was intended, but due to the denial of America by Philippine’s resulted in War. “When the Treaty of Paris provided for U.S ownership rather than independence, Filipinos felt betrayed” (Goldfield et al, 710). According to me, U.S could have very easily tackled the issue by attaching a document at the end of Treaty of Paris, which proposes the bicameral government under one branch controlled by two separate powers the Philippine’s and the U.S. “More than anyone, Roosevelt used the war to advance not only his political career but also the glory of national expansionism”

“Before it ended in 1902, some 126,500 Americans troops served in the Philippines, 4,234 died there, and 2,800 more were wounded. The cost was $400 million.” (Nash 689). Those are just the number of U.S soldiers, as Philippines lost forty times more the U.S. The loss was extreme, but goal was achieved and U.S had one more Island to its name. During the ongoing War Open Door policy was issued in 1899 preventing China to be taken over by European Countries. Trade with in the Asia, mainly China was the reason behind U.S helping Philippines fight against Spain and annexation of Philippine Island through war. Imperialism, the hunger to trade internationally and forming the world’s strongest resulted in U.S annexation of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Philippine Island under the Treaty of Paris of