Primary Sources from U.S. Overseas Expansion

Context: Emilio Aguinaldo was a leader in the fight for Filipino independence. He was elected president of the Philippines’ provisional government in 1898, after the Philippines gained independence from Spain. When the United States announced its annexation of the Philippines, Aguinaldo issued a manifesto protesting against the American military government. A month later, fighting broke out between U.S. and Filipino forces, marking the beginning of the Philippine-American War.

Excerpt:

General Otis styles himself Military Governor of these Islands, and I protest one and a thousand times and with all the energy of my soul against such authority. I proclaim solemnly that I have not recognized either in Singapore or in Hong Kong or in the Philippines, by word or in writing, the sovereignty of America over this beloved soil. On the contrary, I say that I returned to these Islands on an American warship on the 19th of May last for the express purpose of making war on the Spaniards to regain our liberty and independence. I stated this in my proclamation of the 24th of May last, and I published it in my Manifesto addressed to the Philippine people on the 12th of June. Lastly, all this was confirmed by the American General Merritt himself, predecessor of General Otis, in his Manifesto to the Philippine people some days before he demanded the surrender of Manila from the Spanish General Jaudenes. In that Manifesto it is distinctly stated that the naval and field forces of the United States had come to give us our liberty, by subverting the bad Spanish Government, And I hereby protest against this unexpected act of the United States claiming sovereignty over these Islands. My relations with the United States did not bring me over here from Hong Kong to make war on the Spaniards for their benefit, but for the purpose of our own liberty and independence...
 

For more information about Aguinaldo’s Manifesto, or to access the complete text, click here.