Arguments Against American Imperialism

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The Anti-Imperialist Argument

American Imperialism is commonly seen as a dark time in American history. Anti-Imperialist sentiments sprouted during the campaigns in the Philippines; from the defense of morals and the hypocrisy of American Imperialism; to the misled preservation of white supremacy and the job market; to the defense of the job market. The hypocrisy and idealistic resentment of American Imperialism came into mainstream though through Mark Twain’s personal denouncements in “A Salutation Speech From the Nineteenth Century to the Twentieth”, before joining the Anti-Imperialist League. He denounced that, although once a avid supporter of the Spanish-American war in the Philippines, he quickly turned against it once the main goal …show more content…
Senator Tillman is a large believer of races not being “ready” or “civilized” to the level of the white race for American institutions and government. Quote, “Why are we bent on forcing upon them a civilization not suited to them and which only means in their view degradation. . .Those peoples are not suited to our institutions. They are not ready for liberty as we understand it. They do not want it. . .” (3, Senator Tillman - Speech on the Philippines). The removal of the Spanish was as far as he was willing to go, seeing any further attempts on claiming it a foolish waste. Though this offense against the rise of imperialism is ultimately misled, it also was not the only leading argument against it; the thought of a endangered job market that draws away from imperialism’s perceived economic …show more content…
Samuel Gompers believed that there would be a migrant wave of Chinese and Filipino workers moving to the US and taking jobs, effectively removing the American workforce. Without holding the Philippines as a state or territory, he believed that there would be no stopping a flooding of the workforce with new, unskilled laborers who were willing to receive lower wages. He also argues against the claiming of the Philippines in general, worrying over just how many lives shall be lost on both sides; quote, “If we attempt to force upon the natives of the Philippines our rule. . .how many lives shall we take? Of course, they will seem cheap, because they are poor laborers.” (2, Gompers: Imperialism, Its Dangers, and It’s Wrongs). These main forms of anti-imperialist sentiments, and many others, defined the main force against American
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