In 1896, Filipino rebels led by Emilio Aguinaldo began fighting battles to expel the Spanish. Aided by U.S. arms, Aguinaldo’s troops won several battles and issued a declaration of independence in June 1898. But within months, Spain ceded the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam to the United States in exchange for $20 million. Unwilling to disband their provisional government or agree to U.S. control, Filipino forces attacked U.S. soldiers. Four years of fierce guerilla warfare ensued. Dispatching 125,000 troops, the United States lost 4,000 men in the struggle. At the same time, over 20,000 Filipino soldiers and perhaps 200,000 civilians perished. In 1902, Congress reached a compromise in which a presidential appointee governed the islands in conjunction with a Filipino assembly. In 1946, the Philippines were actually granted independence.Many Americans opposed U.S. imperialism. Prominent citizens including William Jennings Bryan, Jane Addams, and Andrew Carnegie argued that acquisition of foreign territories violated national ideals. Some anti-imperialists also claimed that U.S. colonies would jeopardize white supremacy and undermine capitalism.
Mark Twain was a vociferous critic of imperialism. Twain’s writings including The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn brought him international acclaim. He traveled widely and encountered indigenous peoples in several countries. In much of his work, Twain used satire combined with facts to comment on international relations. He was also an active member of the American Friends of Russia and the Anti-Imperialist League. In an essay I would like you to read (you can by clicking here; please read pgs. 265-271), Twain attacks the imperialistic ambitions of President William McKinley and other world leaders.
After you have read the essay, I would like you to reflect on and discuss the following: Why does Twain oppose imperialism? How would you describe the tone of Twain’s writing? Do you think it is effective? How does Twain characterize U.S. involvement in the Philippines? Compare Twain’s essay to Albert Beveridge's speech. How do their interpretations of imperialism differ? Whose arguments most closely resemble your view of imperialism? Why?
5 comments:
no posts on this... this document is a CLASSIC!
Ah, cool comparison with the people in darkness. I guess the light is civilization, which they do not have, which he speaks of bringing to them. He opposes them because of the unchristian things they do to others, such as we have learned about in class. I love the way he writes. It is very formal with symbols and comparisions, and he doesn't say very boldly one side or the other...but, rather, expands on his point to give his opinion. I think it works very well to explain where he is coming from without being boldly against or for something, even though it is stated that he does. He gives economical reasons, as well as social, so as giving reasons of the people who care more about money, to make his point.
I do not like the second document as much, Beveridge's speech. It is mostly facts, opinions, details of land and money, etc. It seems, he is more impacted by the people to be governered, and the money to be made, etc. I believe Twain gets across much better.
Wow, what a read. Twain's satire fits perfectly with yet another social issue in his society. His essay about imperialism shows that even we as Americans are not exzept from "the Game" we just instead put a different spin on European Imperialism. Twain also discusses how we are not liberating but instead are doing the same as the Brits in South Africa. I wish I would have read this before the debate
Another comment to appease Prill, There needs to be some new blog topics or something.
have you commented on all topics? has everyone even read everything? doubtful... have we started anything new since wednesday?
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