Annexation of the Philippines

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During the 19th century America began to expand beyond the territory of America as they became part of the imperialist power. As the economy flourished they needed more input and output for markets to sell natural resources. As trade expanded in the Philippines the U.S needed strong military to secure trade with a naval force. The U.S annexed the Philippines under the condition of protecting the world from Spanish rule. However not all Americans believed the U.S should become an imperialist country. The Filipinos wanted freedom and annexation violated consent of the governed. Fighting broke out Emilio Aguinaldo appointed himself president of the Philippine Republic. The Filipinos did not fight conventionally; they were not skilled enough in battle, so they engaged in guerrilla warfare.it became a longer and costlier conflict than the one in Spain. The U.S is not justified in annexing the Philippines and fighting a war to keep it because it was just a chance to exploit people and land to earn power and prestige. On April 25, the United States declared war on Spain following the sinking of the Battleship U.S.S. Maine in Havana harbor sent by President McKinley to protect U.S citizens. Cuba was the first to initiate its own struggle for independence. Spain used ruthless brutal tactics to bring down the revolt where the U.S intervened due to sympathy for Cuban rebels. During the Spanish American war stories of Cuban righteousness and Spanish brutality were front page. The yellow journalism covered the war extensively and often inaccurately favoring the Cuban rebels but conditions in Cuba were bad enough. After defeating Spain U.S acquired new territories one of them being the Philippines making the United States the “new Spain” .The U.S faced a decision whether they wanted to annex the Philippines or not ultimately approving annexation. In
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