Filipino Struggles Against The Cruel American Imperialism

In the late 19th century, US expansion cost a lot of money and life of so many people in an unnecessary expansion to colonized small countries like the Philippines, Cuba and Puerto Rico, not only breaking their promise of giving their independence back but also breaking their own principle. In this time period it was known as the “Age of Imperialism” where many strong countries like the United States were fighting for countries to expand their influence. The American Imperialist however claimed that they are different from the other imperialist country as their mission is to provide freedom, spread liberty, and democracy.

Philippines is one of the countries that the Americans promised to give their independence back but in the Treaty of Paris the Philippines was sold to America in $20 million. When the Filipinos heard about the Treaty of Paris and its condition, they felt betrayed and vow to fight for their freedom. Emilio Aguinaldo, a revolutionary leader and later became the 1st President of the Republic of the Philippines in 1898, led to fight for their independence rather than letting another country colonized them again. Filipinos are totally in disadvantage in fighting as American soldiers are more trained than Filipino soldiers and they have steady supplies of advanced weapons than Filipinos.

The war lasted for 3 years with a death of over 4,200 American soldiers and 20,000 Filipino soldiers. America Imperialists claimed that their mission is to spread liberty and democracy but is this war that takes away many people’s lives, also part of their so-called mission? And is this expansion necessary at all?

Philippine-American War have many problems that can go against the American Imperialists claim. American Imperialists wish to spread “liberty” and “democracy” but are killing filipino civilians and soldiers considered democracy and liberty? Where is the liberty in that? Is it the killing of many civilians from violence, famine, and diseases a liberty or democracy? Because this is obviously not a democracy but they are declaring their absolute power to the Philippines. Also many Americans look down on Filipinos at that time, can you find liberty and democracy in that? When they don’t even look at the Filipinos as equal?

Many American soldiers were also reported of raping filipinas/females civilians in the Philippines. Will you find liberty and freedom for the Filipinas with those horrible cases? That is obviously contradicting their claim. They are not different from the other Imperialist country at all like the previous colonial ruler of Philippines (Spain) because with these reasons it is enough to prove that the Philippines will never achieved that “liberty,” “democracy,” and especially “freedom.” It is also enough to prove that this Imperialism is not right as their claims/reasons are not legit at all.

It’s not just the Philippines but also Puerto Rico and Cuba were sold/given to America. They all have many different issues to look on to and also contradicts America Imperialist claims but there are also the same issues with the Philippines like killing soldiers/civilians which might be common in a war but it’s still not right. Also one of the major reasons why American Imperialist is not justified is that they break their principle of staying in isolation and self-government ideals that is in the U.S. Declaration of Independence. They also went against the Monroe Doctrine as it is a U.S. policy that opposed European colonialism in the Americas.

American Imperialist claimed that they are different from other “imperialist” but then again they are doing the same thing like the other countries who conquer someone else's land and use violence to hurt/kill people. No matter what definition/mission they have, it is a fact that it is not right colonizing and taking over the government of another country because every country has the right to choose whatever system they want their country to be and not for the other countries to decide. No country also have the rights to colonize any country as they want because they all have the same rights to govern their own country. Imperialism will never be right whatever the country’s reason for doing it as it brings pain, injury, scars and many negative effect to the people involved.