Name ________________________________________

Multiple Perspectives Writing Assignment

Assignment Question:
To what extent was it right or wrong for the United States
to annex the Philippines in 1898?
Directions:
Use the documents to present the opposing viewpoints on United States
imperialism during the late 1800s. Be sure to cite and explain specific examples
from the text of each document to support your analysis of the opposing
viewpoints. Be sure to also consider the potential bias presented in each argument.
Finally, make sure you include a detailed answer to the assignment question: To
what extent was it right or wrong for the United States to annex the Philippines in
1898?
Historical Context:
During the late 1800s, America joined the ranks of imperialist nations when it
sought to exert its influence over Asian countries and annex island nations in the
Pacific. At the conclusion of the Spanish American War in 1898, America was left
to decide whether or not it should annex the Philippines. During this time period,
opposing viewpoints emerged. Some believed that it was necessary for American
economic and military growth. Some even claimed it was Americas responsibility
to take over the land to help further civilization of that foreign nation. Others,
however, opposed annexation because they believed it was wrong to impose a way
of life on others. Imperialism, they believed, went against American ideals of
democracy and equality.

Platform
American

of the
Anti-

Imperialist League (1899)

The Anti-Imperialist League was formed on June 15, 1898 to oppose U.S. annexation of the
Philippines. Prominent members of the league included author Mark Twain, industrialist and
philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, and American Federation of Labor leader Samuel Gompers.
The following are excerpts from the leagues platform written in 1898:

We hold that the policy known as imperialism is

hostile to liberty and tends toward militarism, an
evil from which it has been our glory to be free. We
regret that it has become necessary in the land of
Washington and Lincoln to reaffirm that all men, of
whatever race or color, are entitled to life, liberty,
and the pursuit of happiness. We maintain that
governments derive their just powers from the
consent of the governed. We insist that the
subjugation of any people is "criminal aggression"
and open disloyalty to the distinctive principles of
our government.
We condemn the policy of the present national
administration in the Philippines. It seeks to
extinguish the spirit of 1776 in those islandsWe denounce the slaughter of the
Filipinos as a needless horror and demand the immediate [end to] the war
against liberty, begun by Spain and continued by us
We still hope that both of our great political parties will support and defend the
Declaration of Independence in the closing campaign of the century. We cordially

invite the co-operation of all men and women who remain loyal to the declaration
of independence and the Constitution of the United States.

A Senator Speaks in Support of Empire

Albert Beveridge (1862-1927), a Republican senator from Indiana, was a vocal supporter of
United States imperialism. In this 1900 speech to Congress, Senator Beveridge strongly favors
the annexation of the Philippines.

Just beyond the Philippines are China's [unlimited] markets... We will not renounce
our part in the mission of our race, trustee of God, of the civilization of the world...
Where shall we turn for consumers of our surplus?... China is our natural
customer... [England, Germany and Russia] have moved nearer to China by
securing permanent bases on her borders. The Philippines gives us a base at the
door of all the East... They [the Filipinos] are a barbarous race, modified by three
centuries of contact with [the Spanish]... It is barely possible that 1,000 men in all
the archipelago are capable of self-government in the Anglo-Saxon sense... The
Declaration [of Independence] applies only to people capable of self-government.
How dare any man prostitute this expression of the very elect of self-government
peoples to a race of Malay children of barbarism, schooled in Spanish methods and
ideas? And you, who say the Declaration applies to all men, how dare you deny its
application to the American Indian? And if you deny it to the Indian at home, how
dare you grant it to the Malay abroad?

Platform of the American Anti-Imperialist League (1899)

1. What reason(s) does the American Anti-Imperialist League give to oppose the
annexation of the Philippines? Use textual evidence to support your answer.

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2. What was the American Anti-Imperialist League? What were their goals? How
might understanding this help you identify potential bias in its argument?

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3. What was the attitude of this League toward the annexation of the Philippines?
Highlight important words / sentences in the text that support your claim. This will
be the textual evidence you include in your essay.
4. Do you agree with the argument presented by the Anti-Imperialist League? Why
or why not?

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__________________________________________
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Senator Albert Beveridge Supports Imperialism

1. What reason(s) does Albert Beveridge give to support the annexation of the
Philippines? Use textual evidence to support your answer.

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2. Who was the Albert Beveridge? How might understanding this help you
identify potential bias in his argument?

__________________________________________
__________________________________________
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3. What was Beveridges attitude toward the annexation of the Philippines?
Highlight important words / sentences in the text that support your claim. This will
be the textual evidence you include in your essay.

4. Do you agree with the argument presented by Albert Beveridge? Why or why
not?

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Outline of your essay

Paragraph 1: Introduction with thesis
Provide a very brief background of the events leading to Americas annexation of
the Philippines. Add a thesis statement recognizing the opposing viewpoints and
determining your argument over whether or not America was right to annex the
Philippines. (You may choose to put the historical context into your own words
and add a thesis statement.)

Paragraph 2: Platform of the Anti-Imperialist

League
Open with a topic sentence. Then, address the following:
What was the Anti-Imperialist League? What was its perspective on the annexation
of the Philippines? Did they support or oppose it? Support your claim with
specific evidence from the text. Next, be sure to identify the potential bias the
Anti-Imperialist League may have had when presenting its argument.

Paragraph 3: Senator Albert Beveridges

Perspective
Open with a topic sentence. Then, address the following:
Who was Senator Albert Beveridge? What was his perspective on the annexation
of the Philippines? Did he support or oppose it? Support your claim with specific

evidence from the text. Next, be sure to identify the potential bias he may have had
when presenting his argument.

Paragraph 4: Conclusion and your argument

Acknowledge the opposing viewpoints on the issue of annexing the Philippines in
1898. Next, present your own argument. What do you think? To what extent was
it right or wrong for the United States to annex the Philippines in 1898? Explain
and defend your position with detail.

Graphic
in order to

Organizer (see outline

complete)

Introduction Paragraph
Brief background of the events that led to Americas annexation of the Philippines:

Thesis Statement (recognizing the opposing viewpoints and establishing your argument
over whether or not it was right for the United States to annex the Philippines):

__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________

Paragraph 2
Argument of the Anti-Imperialist League (with specific text evidence):

What was the Anti-Imperialist League? What potential bias may exist in its argument?

Paragraph 3
Senator Albert Beveridges argument (with specific text evidence):

Who was Senator Albert Beveridge? What potential bias may exist in his argument?

Paragraph 4

Acknowledge the opposing viewpoints on Americas annexation of the Philippines and

present your argument. To what extent was it right or wrong for the United States to
annex the Philippines in 1898?