The Philippine Insurrection "U.S. Retaliates"
Abstract
The brutal repression of the rebellion in Cuba by the Spanish in 1896 captured America's attention as the nationalized press denounced the Spanish commander, General Valeriano "Butcher" Weyler. In addition, in 1896 thousands of Cubans died in Spanish detention camps during Cuba's fight for independence. Faced with the increasing pressure for American intervention, newly elected President William McKinley attempted to find a diplomatic solution to the crisis. However, the warship, USS Maine exploded and sank in the Havana Harbor on the night of February 15, 1898. This sole action effectively ended President McKinley' s efforts to avoid a war between the United States and Spain. Ten days later, the Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Theodore Roosevelt secretly informed the Asiatic Squadron Commander, Commodore George Dewey, that in the event of war, he was to conduct offensive operations against the Spanish fleet based in Manila Bay, Philippine Islands. On April 22, 1898, three days after Congress declared war, Commodore Dewey received his orders to proceed at once to the Philippines and capture or destroy the Spanish fleet (Karnow 101-2). As Dewey steamed from Hong Kong towards Manila Bay, he was unaware of the consequences that his action would bring about as he engaged and defeated the Spanish fleet on May 1, 1898. After the defeat of the Spanish forces in Manila, President William McKinley implemented a benevolent policy of assimilation for the absorption of the Philippine government. This caused an insurrection led by Emilio Aguinaldo to challenge the United States Anny for nearly four years. Despite lacking a formal, written counterinsurgency doctrine, the frontier experiences passed from one generation of Soldiers to the next provided invaluable lessons learned that was shared with incoming volunteers who had limited military experiences.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 17, 2005
- Accession Number
- AD1111444
Entities
People
- Alton Latson
- Anthony Ashford
- Byron Doo
- David Groce
- David White
- Robert Lake
Organizations
- United States Army Sergeants Major Academy