How The US Stole The Philippines

Key Concepts

• US Expansionism: The debate and motivations behind the US expanding beyond its mainland in the late 1800s.
• Liberation Narrative: The use of "liberation" as a justification for US military intervention and territorial acquisition.
• Spanish-American War: The conflict between the US and Spain, and its impact on Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines.
• Fake Battle of Manila: The orchestrated surrender of Spanish forces to the US, excluding Filipino revolutionaries.
• Unincorporated Territories: A legal category created by the US Supreme Court to define territories acquired through war, where residents do not have full constitutional rights.
• Colonialism: The continued existence of US colonial possessions and their implications for the rights and representation of the people living there.

The US Steals the Philippines: A Detailed Summary

Introduction: A History of Conquest and Contradiction

The video introduces the story of the Philippines, a nation of 7,000 islands with a rich history dating back over 30,000 years, known as Ma'I. It contrasts this history with the expansionist tendencies of European powers, setting the stage for the US's eventual colonization of the islands. The video argues that this history is often overlooked because it challenges the US's self-image as a champion of freedom and equality, revealing a pattern of imperial behavior. The presenter, Johnny Harris, states that the US, once a colony itself, became an empire, a fact that contradicts the founding belief that "all men are created equal."

BetterHelp Sponsorship

A brief interlude discusses the video's sponsor, BetterHelp, an online therapy platform. Harris shares his personal experience with therapy and emphasizes its accessibility and affordability through BetterHelp. He provides a link (betterhelp.com/johnnyharris) for viewers to receive 10% off their first month.

From Spain to the US: A Shift in Colonial Power

The video acknowledges Spain's initial colonization of the Philippines 500 years ago, which left a lasting impact on the islands' culture, religion, and language. The islands were named after King Philip. However, it argues that the US's influence had a more profound and lasting impact, shaping the relationship between the US and its territories to this day.

The Spanish-American War and the "Liberation" Narrative

The video explains that in the late 1800s, the US began to debate whether to expand beyond its mainland. The US, under the influence of figures like Teddy Roosevelt (then Assistant Secretary of the Navy), set its sights on Cuba, a Spanish colony where locals were rebelling. The explosion of the USS Maine in Havana harbor, likely an accident but sensationalized by unethical journalism, provided the pretext for the US to declare war on Spain in 1898.

The video emphasizes that the US framed its intervention as a mission of "liberation," a narrative used to justify the war to the American public. This marked a shift in how the US engaged in warfare, requiring a compelling angle to gain public support.

Teddy Roosevelt's Ambitions and the Invasion of the Philippines

Teddy Roosevelt, despite his relatively low position, played a key role in expanding the scope of the war beyond Cuba. He directed the Navy to attack Spanish territories in Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines without explicit presidential approval. This led to the US arriving in the Philippines, where locals had already been fighting for independence from Spain for years.

The US government justified its presence in the Philippines by claiming it was a strategic hub for commercial opportunities in Asia and that its acquisition would prevent other powers like Japan or Germany from taking control. However, the official narrative remained focused on "liberating" the Filipino people.

The Fake Battle of Manila: A Betrayal of Filipino Independence

The video reveals a secret agreement between US and Spanish military commanders to stage a fake battle in Manila. The Spanish, unwilling to surrender to Filipino revolutionaries, agreed to surrender to the US in a staged event. The US, in turn, excluded Filipino fighters from the final assault on the walled city of Manila, ensuring that the US would be seen as the conqueror, not the liberator.

After the fake battle, Spain was paid $20 million by the US for their troubles. The US then claimed sovereignty over the Philippines, effectively replacing Spain as the colonizer.

Propaganda and the "White Man's Burden"

The US government launched a propaganda campaign to maintain the "liberation" narrative. This included military parades, such as "Dewey Day" in New York City, and advertisements that promoted the idea of the US civilizing the Filipino people. An example cited is a soap advertisement depicting George Dewey, the US commander, with the caption "the first step towards lightening the white man's burden is through teaching the virtues of cleanliness."

The Philippine-American War: Resistance and Brutality

The video highlights the brutal Philippine-American War (1899-1902), a conflict largely absent from US history books. The Filipinos, having been denied their independence, fought against the US occupation. The war involved massacres of Filipino civilians by US forces and resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths. Despite the violence, the US eventually prevailed and established a government in the Philippines.

The Insular Cases and the Creation of "Unincorporated Territories"

The video explains that the US's acquisition of the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam raised fundamental questions about the status of these territories and their inhabitants. A New York importer challenged tariffs on oranges from Puerto Rico, arguing that it was part of the US and therefore exempt from such taxes.

The Supreme Court addressed these questions in a series of cases known as the Insular Cases. The court created a new legal category called "unincorporated territories," which were lands controlled by the US but whose residents did not have the same constitutional rights as US citizens. This meant that people in these territories lacked full representation in the US democracy, including the right to vote for the President and the right to trial by jury.

The video argues that the Supreme Court's decision revealed that the US was acting as an empire, exploiting these territories for revenue while denying their inhabitants full rights.

The Philippines in American Consciousness and World War II

The video notes that the Philippines, as an unincorporated territory, faded from American consciousness. This was exemplified during World War II when President Franklin D. Roosevelt initially omitted the Philippines from his speech following the attack on Pearl Harbor, despite the fact that Japan also bombed the Philippines on the same day. Japan invaded and occupied the Philippines until the end of the war. The Philippines were finally granted independence in 1946.

The Legacy of Colonialism Today

The video concludes by arguing that the "unincorporated territories" precedent established by the Supreme Court continues to affect the four million people living in US colonial possessions today, including Puerto Rico and Guam. These residents lack full democratic rights and representation, which contributes to issues such as inadequate government responses to natural disasters like hurricanes in Puerto Rico. The video asserts that the US has historically treated these territories as sources of revenue rather than as integral parts of the nation, perpetuating a legacy of colonialism and inequality.

Conclusion: A Call for Recognition and Justice

The video ends with a call to recognize the ongoing impact of US colonialism and to address the lack of rights and representation for residents of US territories. It argues that the US must confront its imperial past and ensure that all people living under its jurisdiction are treated with equality and respect.