We had to write an essay in AP US history about the US annexation and occupation of the Philippines using a set of documents provided. The essay prompt was something like "was the US justified in its occupation?" Not only did the documents not even once mention the guerilla war, concentration camps, and genocide, but they directed us towards a case that the US occupation was necessary to prevent even worse colonial powers from seizing the Philippines (Germany in particular) had the US allowed the Filipinos to be independent.
I learned what actually happened a few years later and now have a burning hatred for my APUSH teacher.
I think most students don't get taught about the US occupation of the Philippines at all. I think that at most 1/3 of americans know that it used to be our colony
The worst part for me, besides actually writing in favor of the occupation because I didn't know any better, was that we did dedicate time to the idea of America as a colonial empire. We were never taught what that actually meant though. It was entirely detached from any actions or consequences, as if it were just a label fixed on to it.
We had to write an essay in AP US history about the US annexation and occupation of the Philippines using a set of documents provided. The essay prompt was something like "was the US justified in its occupation?" Not only did the documents not even once mention the guerilla war, concentration camps, and genocide, but they directed us towards a case that the US occupation was necessary to prevent even worse colonial powers from seizing the Philippines (Germany in particular) had the US allowed the Filipinos to be independent.
I learned what actually happened a few years later and now have a burning hatred for my APUSH teacher.
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I think most students don't get taught about the US occupation of the Philippines at all. I think that at most 1/3 of americans know that it used to be our colony
The worst part for me, besides actually writing in favor of the occupation because I didn't know any better, was that we did dedicate time to the idea of America as a colonial empire. We were never taught what that actually meant though. It was entirely detached from any actions or consequences, as if it were just a label fixed on to it.