Which of the following constructs an argument in favor of U.S. annexation of the Philippines?
(1 point)
Racist ideology: White Americans’ way of life would be taken away.
Economic reasons: Overseas possession are expensive and hard to
manage.
Trade reasons: Trade with Germany would increase dramatically.
Paternalism: Filipinos are unfit to rule, and the U.S. has a duty to
manage them.
Paternalism: Filipinos are unfit to rule, and the U.S. has a duty to manage them.
The argument in favor of U.S. annexation of the Philippines can be constructed using the following points:
1. Racist ideology: This argument suggests that white Americans feared losing their way of life if the Philippines were not annexed. It implies that they believed their supremacy would be threatened if a non-white population had influence over American territories.
2. Economic reasons: This argument maintains that overseas possessions, such as the Philippines, can be expensive and challenging to manage. By annexing the Philippines, the United States could potentially gain control over its resources and economic opportunities, which could be beneficial for American interests.
3. Trade reasons: This point suggests that annexing the Philippines could lead to a significant increase in trade with Germany. The exact rationale for emphasizing Germany in this argument is unclear, but it implies that controlling the Philippines could positively impact American-German trade relations.
4. Paternalism: This argument is based on the belief that Filipinos are unfit to rule themselves and that the United States has a responsibility to manage them. It reflects a paternalistic attitude towards the Filipino population, arguing that they require guidance and governance from the United States.
These four points collectively form an argument in favor of U.S. annexation of the Philippines, incorporating elements of racial bias, economic opportunities, potential trade benefits, and a paternalistic duty to rule over the Filipino population.
To evaluate which of the given options constructs an argument in favor of U.S. annexation of the Philippines, we can break down each option and analyze its reasoning:
1. Racist ideology: This argument suggests that white Americans' way of life would be taken away if the Philippines were not annexed. However, it is important to note that this argument is based on a racist ideology, which is not a valid or ethical reason for annexation.
2. Economic reasons: This argument points out that overseas possessions can be expensive and difficult to manage. However, it does not specifically support the annexation of the Philippines. It simply raises concerns about the potential challenges of managing overseas territories.
3. Trade reasons: This argument states that trade with Germany would increase dramatically if the Philippines were annexed. However, it does not provide a comprehensive argument in favor of annexation as it focuses solely on potential trade benefits with one specific country.
4. Paternalism: This argument asserts that Filipinos are unfit to rule themselves, and that the United States has a duty to manage them. It is the only option that constructs an argument in favor of U.S. annexation based on the concept of paternalism. Paternalism refers to the belief that a dominant nation has a responsibility to govern and guide a less advanced nation for its own benefit.
Therefore, the option that constructs an argument in favor of U.S. annexation of the Philippines is the fourth option: Paternalism.