Contested Philippine Histories Episode 6: Was the US occupation a "benevolent" assimilation?

Summary

This podcast episode critically examines the American colonial rule in the Philippines, exploring the concept of 'benevolent assimilation' used by the U.S. to justify its imperial occupation. The hosts highlight how the U.S. portrayed its actions as civilizing and philanthropic, while in reality, brutal military campaigns, exploitation, and environmental destruction occurred. They discuss the Filipino resistance to American rule, the misrepresentation of their struggle, and the long-term effects of American colonization on Filipino society and culture. The episode questions the true nature of American imperialism and its lasting impact on the Philippines.

Takeaways

• 😀 The United States launched an imperial campaign after defeating Spain in the Spanish-American War and acquiring the Philippines.
• 😀 The U.S. justified its colonial takeover of the Philippines with the concept of 'benevolent assimilation,' claiming to bring peace and liberty.
• 😀 The term 'benevolent assimilation' was used to mask the brutality of the Philippine-American War, where violent tactics were employed to suppress Filipino resistance.
• 😀 Filipino independence had already been declared prior to the U.S. taking control, leading to a conflict over sovereignty and legitimacy.
• 😀 The U.S. framed the Philippine-American War as an 'insurrection' rather than a war between two sovereign nations, using propaganda to demonize Filipinos.
• 😀 Despite claiming to be 'exceptional' and different from European colonizers, the U.S. engaged in imperial actions that were similar to those of European empires.
• 😀 The rhetoric of 'civilizing missions' and 'white man's burden' was used to justify the U.S. actions, but this contrasted sharply with the brutal realities on the ground.
• 😀 American colonial policies led to significant destruction in the Philippines, including massacres, forced displacements, and environmental damage.
• 😀 American exceptionalism was portrayed through intellectual campaigns that demonized Spanish colonialism while promoting American control as more progressive and benevolent.
• 😀 The legacy of American colonial rule in the Philippines was marked by violence, subjugation, and exploitation, despite some improvements in education and infrastructure.

Q & A

What was the historical context that led to the American colonization of the Philippines?

The American colonization of the Philippines began after the Spanish-American War in 1898, where Spain ceded its remaining colonies, including the Philippines, to the United States through the Treaty of Paris. Despite the Philippines declaring independence, the U.S. took control, triggering the Philippine-American War.

How did the United States justify its imperial actions in the Philippines?

The U.S. justified its actions under the concept of 'benevolent assimilation,' claiming that their mission was to provide peace, individual rights, and better governance to the Filipinos. U.S. President William McKinley's declaration emphasized this idea of a civilizing mission, presenting it as a moral obligation to uplift the Filipino people.

What was the irony in the U.S. description of its colonial mission in the Philippines?

The irony lies in the fact that while the U.S. presented itself as a benevolent colonizer, the reality on the ground was marked by violence, brutality, and oppression. The U.S. used language that depicted its actions as civilizing, but in practice, it involved subjugation, massacres, and the repression of Filipino resistance.

What was the role of the Philippine-American War in shaping U.S. colonial actions?

The Philippine-American War, which broke out in 1899, was a critical turning point. The U.S. reframed it as an 'insurrection' rather than a war between sovereign states. This allowed them to justify brutal military tactics while portraying the Philippines as a backward, uncivilized place in need of American control.

How did the U.S. portray Filipinos in political cartoons and media during this period?

In political cartoons and media, Filipinos were often depicted as 'backward' or 'savage' to reinforce the idea that they needed to be civilized by the U.S. This racialized portrayal served to justify the American imperial mission and present Filipinos as inferior, in need of U.S. intervention.

What criticisms did the Anti-Imperialist League in the U.S. raise about American actions in the Philippines?

The Anti-Imperialist League criticized the U.S. for contradicting its own founding principles, such as government by consent of the governed. They argued that the U.S. was waging a 'barbaric war' in the Philippines, using force to impose governance instead of respecting the Filipino people's right to self-determination.

What was the impact of American policies on the Filipino environment and economy?

Under American rule, the Philippines faced severe environmental degradation, such as deforestation, which was exacerbated by U.S. commercial interests. Economically, the country was shaped into a cash-crop economy, with industries geared toward the extraction of resources for American benefit, contributing to long-term economic dependence.

How did the U.S. attempt to justify its colonial rule through education and cultural programs?

The U.S. implemented programs like the 'pensionado' system, where Filipinos were sent to the U.S. to receive education, with the goal of creating a class of Americanized bureaucrats. The University of the Philippines was established in part to create a trained elite that would support American colonial governance.

What was the American intellectual approach to depicting the Spanish colonial period in the Philippines?

American colonial propaganda often demonized Spanish rule, portraying it as inept and oppressive. Through intellectual projects, such as the 'Philippine Islands' volumes, the U.S. sought to depict its own colonial rule as a progressive alternative to the 'dark' period under Spanish control.

Was the American colonial rule truly 'benevolent' as claimed, according to the script?

No, the American colonial rule was not genuinely benevolent. While the U.S. claimed to be providing progress and stability, in reality, the period was marked by violence, subjugation, and exploitation. The term 'benevolent assimilation' masks the harsh realities of colonialism, which involved military repression, economic exploitation, and cultural imposition.