Imperialism Teaching Unit After the Spanish-American War policymakers debated intensely about the future of the Philippines. The Philippines was important territory during the late 1800's because it provided "a window towards overseas expansion"ÃÂ. Attitudes concerning overseas expansion varied. Military officials saw it as an opportunity to expand "American might around the world"ÃÂ. Business leaders feared the expenses and risks of maintaining "far-flung American possessions"ÃÂ. Other corporate leaders saw the possibilities of making new investments, markets, and new supplies for cheap labor in distant lands. The main purpose of overseas expansion was to form new ideas and relationships between the United States and the rest of the world. Emilio Aguinaldo helped the American Military to drive out the Spanish from the Philippines. Aguinaldo and his supporters felt that the Filipino people earned their independence. American policy makers thought otherwise.
Following overseas expansion was "Manifest Destiny"ÃÂ. This was a belief that white Anglo Saxon Americans had a God-given duty to spread their values and various cultures throughout the continent of North America.
United States
United States
English: Photograph of William Jennings Bryan as a...As time passed Americans began to speak out against Manifest Destiny, only to create a new one. Citizens argued that the Manifest Destiny was limiting itself by not sharing their cultures and values with the rest of the world. Social Darwinism also promoted overseas expansion.
The event that placed the issue of expansion on the "national agenda"ÃÂ was the Spanish-American War. Many Americans continued to have disagreements with the Senate's decision and events in the Philippines, which added more problems to the controversy. Two days before the Senate proceeded to take over the Philippines, fighting broke out between American troops and the Filipino forces, which was led by Emilio Aguinaldo. This battle lasted two years, Four thousand two hundred Americans lost their lives while, Two hundred-twenty two thousand Filipinos...