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 Spanish- American 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 American troops would be withdrawn from the island only after it accepted certain duties and restrictions spelled out in the Platt Amendment.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