The Philippine Insurrection

Paper Summary:

After the United States' victory in the Spanish-American war, it purchased the Philippines from Spain for twenty million dollars. However, the U.S. neglected to acknowledge that the Philippines had grown very nationalistic during their bloody revolution with Spain. The paper shows that during that revolution and the Spanish-American wars, the United States and Philippines had joined as allies in the fight against Spain. After their victory and not looking to become the colony of yet another imperialistic nation, the Philippines directed their aggression at their new colonizer, the United States. The paper shows that the United States, intent on growing as both a new world power and imperialistic force, decided that they would retain the Philippines as a colony. The Philippines, intent on finally discovering their freedom, had different ideas, and set their focus on getting the United States, their forces and influence out of the Philippines. The paper explains that this competing set of goals and ideals led to the bloody conflict that would become known rhetorically as the "Philippine Insurrection".

Paper Outline:
Introduction
The Conflict
Interpretation of War
American Freedom and Democracy
Bibliography

From the Paper:

"The battle of Tirad Pass, just months later, was further confirmation that in a traditional war, the United States superior technology and might was too much for Filipino forces. With American forces advancing on President Aguinaldo, twenty-four year old general Gregorio del Pilar led a specially trained sixty-man force to repel over five hundred American troops and propel his President to safety. The young general, fighting in territory that his men had constructed (with tunnels, trenches and barricades), volleyed fire at American forces inflicting numerous casualties. With such a tight and shallow entrance through Filipino forces, the American forces quickly abandoned a frontal assault. Instead, the American forces split, half flanking the opposition. The Americans, now surrounding del Pilar's forces, easily attacked and killed 52 of the 60 soldiers under Pilar's command."

More papers on The Philippine Insurrection:

• Comparison Essay # 7159 : "The Charleston Insurrection Conspiracy"
• Analytical Essay # 141066 : "Spanish Colonizer and the Philippines"
• Persuasive Essay # 112786 : "Cultural Mistakes in Military Operations"

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