What were America's motives in occupying the Philippines?

Answer 1

As you alluded, there were several, but first and formost was colonialism. It was also feared that Germay and Britain had eyes on the country at the time as well. The US wanted and "needed" an over seas presence at the time and since they felt they pretty much already had the ability to "own" the Philippines the took it. In retrospect it was not right, but you would have had to live then to fully understand it.

Answer 2

Commodore george Dewey attacked the Philippines to weaken spanish resistance but really because America wanted to be an imperialistic power of it's own and thought a place in Asia would be a good start

Answer 3

Until 1898 the Philippines, Guam and Cuba were the last remaining colonies of the Kingdom of Spain within the Caribbean and Pacific theatre. The United States originally wanted only Cuba for it's economic benefits, using the sinking of the USS Maine along with the constant revolutions on the island to declare war. Once war had broken out and the US government had spent more time studying the various other Spanish possessions in detail they concluded that the Philippines would be a perfect territory to secure in the Pacific as it provided the occupant with a good access to Asia at times of war and for trade purposes thus this was added to their list of expansionalist goals. The american forces that landed on the islands actually promised the revolutionaries independence upon the end of the war if they helped them, the revolutionaries accepted the offer and fought alongside american troops in many key battles to secure the islands. The US government however betrayed them by purchasing the Philippines and Guam from Spain for $20 million at the end of the war.

Answer 4

The problems between the United States and the Philippines began as a part of the Spanish American War that can be considered an extension of the Cuban War of Independence. The US urge for expansion in this period was promoted by big business and the newspaper industry and political stability was the essential goal of most factions. The sinking of the US Maine on 15 February 1898 in Havana Harbor where it had been sent by President McKinley to insure the safe evacuation of American citizens resulted in a US Declaration of War with Spain on 25 April 1898. Commodore George Dewey conducted the attack on Manila Bay on 1 May 1898 and destroyed the Spanish squadron. The Treaty of Paris signed on 10 December 1898 ended Spanish Colonial efforts in the New World and the Philippines were annexed by the US.

Answer 5

America's looking for connection to the Asian market. -v7-

Answer 6

The Phillipenes were a Spanish possesion and during the Spanish American War, Spain's Fleet was located in Manila Bay.

Answer 7

because the US are hypocritical bullies who love dictating to other countries how they are to run.

Answer 8

The Us went to war with the Philippines because the Philippines was agitating for independence.