The Spanish-American War began with a stunning naval victory in the Philippines for the United States. The plan was to inflict severe damage on the Spanish colony of the Philippines in order to coerce Spain to liberate Cuba. Commodore George Dewey and the Asiatic squadron destroyed the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay, but lacking sufficient numbers of troops, they could not occupy territory until an expeditionary force arrived from America. Helping liberate the countryside was Filipino nationalist Emilio Aguinaldo. He had been leading a rebellion against the Spanish colonial government before the war broke out in 1898. Understanding that the American motive in the war was to liberate Cuba from Spanish colonial rule, Aguinaldo assumed that helping American forces remove Spanish troops might mean independence for the Philippines. Aguinaldo and his supporters even established a temporary government. When they realized that America would not leave the Philippines, Aguinaldo issued a call for independence and rebelled against the United States, touching off a war that lasted nearly three years. You can read his declaration of independence, as presented in The Outlook, a popular news magazine, by clicking here.After you read Aguinaldo’s declaration I would like you to think about and discuss the following: What are Aguinaldo’s reasons for waging war against the United States? In what ways does Aguinaldo use references about America to support his case for Filipino independence? For what reasons does Aguinaldo dismiss “this autonomy America offers?” Your thoughts…
5 comments:
First of all let me just say that this guy doesn't seem very confident. I mean, the article is called "Pleas for Independence" as opossed to something more...assertive. Maybe he's trying really hard not to tick off Spain here, like when he says things like "Who(Spain warmed you with the breath of her own culture and civilization", as if Spanish rule helped them out. He also seems to be pretty angry at the whole Spain vs. U.S. conflict, who wouldn't be? He wants to wage war on the U.S. simply because he feels like they have all been deceived. He even brings up the Monroe doctrine: "America is for the Americans, the Philipines are for the Filipinos". Aguinaldo is reassured and driven on by the fact that he even has some support from the U.S. The reason Aguinaldo will not accept American rule is because he does not trust the americans and says that "It is the intention of autonomists to make use of treachery and deceit".
Aguinaldo states that just like the Monroe doctrine, America is for Americans and Philippine is for Filipinos. They are not willing to give up their independence just to be overthrown by U.S..
Aguinaldo mentions U.S. as treaturous and decietful autonomist who were once their allies but now enemies.
Aguinaldo wishes to dimiss the autonomy America because they were decietful and treaturous by tricking Filipinos. He wants to keep their national honor pure, unlike U.S.
It seems to me like aginaldo is regretting getting out from spains power because he thinks that the u.s are worse. i think this is because they were betrayed by the u.s. i agree with his point about america for america, and philipine for filipinos. i like it that he states america's hypocrisy.
in this document i think that aguinaldo was saying that the united states is being quite hypocritical. though this document isn't written in any assertive fashion, it expresses the views of a people who want to be independent. aguinaldo acknowledges that maybe the tables are turning. first they were under spain and fighting for independence from them with the united states, but now their under the united states and may have to turn to spain for help. he's bashing the monroe doctrine basically saying: you won us our freedom. now let us have it and go!
Aguinaldo wants to wage war with the U.S. because he's been tricked by the Americans. It seems like he thought life was a lit better with Spanish rule than American occupation. The Filipinos are thinking that they should've just remained under Spanish rule (their mother) instead of fighting against her. Aguinaldo talks about the Monroe doctrine as a way to enforce the idea of Filipino independence. Aguinaldo is stating America's hypocrisy; they fought for their freedom but are now taking it away from the Filipinos.
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