{TEXTBOOK} in Our Image: Americas Empire in the Philippines

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The people began to rise up and fight back. He and his family ran the country as their own personal piggy bank for twenty years while the US was preoccupied in Vietnam. The US looked the other way for the sake of the military bases, vital to the war in Indochina. Marcos was eventually overthrown by an impromptu election he himself called for. His successor, however, could do little but pick up the pieces of the country Marcos had driven into crippling debt. Instead of dismantling the system that had led to such unrest, she merely reestablished the system that had kept landowners in power and the peasants in the mud, looking out for those of her own social class. The United States hoped to change the Philippines into a bastion of Western civilization in the East, but failing to force change on the established gentry, who controlled land, industry, politics, and all other aspects of the nation, ensured nothing would ever improve for anyone but the rich minority. All promises of land reforms to improve the condition of the poor never happened due to the landowners fighting every attempt at meaningful change. Cronyism still runs the country, and it remains a practically feudal society to this day. The US may look down on their corrupt democracy, but cronyism and nepotism run the world. It just happens to be less of a secret in the Philippines. It is not a simple era. The motivations for taking control of the Philippines were not simple. The outcome was also not simple. Meaningful change could never happen so long as the rich resisted it, and so long as the US caved in to the demands of the rich. View 2 comments. Dec 18, Tara rated it really liked it. This was a really readable, interesting account of the history of the Philippines, from Spanish colonization up to Cory Aquino's presidency. Definitely recommend it to anyone traveling to the country. It gave me a better understanding of Filipino society and culture while I was there. The author has spent decades covering the country as a journalist, and includes really interesting insight and anecdotes from his time there. Good book. Despite Americans' continual debates about the nature of their modern "empire," or about their supposedly imperialistic foreign policy, there is one extremely relevant case of American empire that almost no one discusses, the Philippines. And yet, as Stanley Karnow shows in this engaging history, the Philippines represents the one place where Americans engaged in a classic colonial adventure, where we tried to govern tens of millions of foreign people for decades from to Yet America Despite Americans' continual debates about the nature of their modern "empire," or about their supposedly imperialistic foreign policy, there is one extremely relevant case of American empire that almost no one discusses, the Philippines. Yet America seems to have forgotten the experiment. The Philippine conquest started by chance. In a bid to save the Cubans from Spanish perfidy, America attacked the Spanish empire across the globe. Admiral Dewey smashed the Spanish fleet off the Philippines, and U. After winning the battle, however, it turned out the Americans were in possession of a massive piece of that Spanish empire. While we had promised to give Cubans their freedom, we had said nothing about this distant archipelago, which President WIlliam McKinley, when he appointed his first ambassador there, couldn't find on a map. McKinley, however, claimed that God had told him in a dream to take possession of the islands, and the treaty confirming this dream only passed the Senate by the tie-breaking vote of the Vice President. Although the United States brutally put down an insurgency led by the wealthy native leader Emilio Aguinaldo, overall, the U. From the beginning, the U. S allowed the Philippines to form political parties advocating independence, to vote in local and parliamentary elections, and to print their own newspapers. Unlike European countries who refused to teach most natives the colonizers' language, America began an unprecedented effort to cover the island with English language primary schools. Fond memories of U. Twice, when the U. Congress willingly voted for Philippine independence admittedly at the instigation of US sugar and tobacco barons who feared Philippine competition in and , Philippine legislators, including the nominal hero of independence Manuel Quezon, secretly asked that the U. Only after General Douglas MacArthur whose father Arthur MacArthur had actually led the struggle against Philippine insurgents liberated the islands from a brutal Japanese dictatorship earning him near godlike status there did the U. So despite America's obvious mistakes, the nation has much to be proud of in its time in the Philippines. It brought genuine advancement, and gave the nation up willingly to a democratic alternative. This explains why today Filipinos still admire the U. The book lags when it deals with the long pre-American Spanish empire, and when it goes into the innumerable twists and turns of Philippine politics post, but on the whole it offers a vivid reminder of one of the U. Feb 15, David rated it really liked it Shelves: read-history. I blogged about this excellent book here. I learned that my eighth-grade English teacher was right: if you really want to retain what you've read, try writing about it after you read it. When this book was published, some readers probably went directly to the final chapters — a detailed narrative of recently-passed events before, during, and after the downfall of the Ferdinand Marcos regime — because they seemed the most important part of the book. Now, twenty years later, this narrative has lost I blogged about this excellent book here. At the same time, the first half of the book, formerly prologue, has now taken on a possible new significance as a distant mirror of the current troubles of the USA's occupying armies in the Middle East. I think this parallel also struck American author and filmmaker John Sayles , which is why he recently produced both a book and a movie about this darkly ambiguous episode in America's history. You can tell in this book that Karnow has Vietnam on the brain. The consistent references might be a little mystifying to someone who wasn't aware of the extent that the Vietnam War transfixed public attention and became the defining event in the lives of many who were there. Still, that's a small quibble in a book as good as this one. Sep 11, Nick Klagge rated it really liked it Shelves: filipino. Very good, and I would recommend it to anyone with an interest in the Philippines--particularly Americans who, like me, haven't had much exposure to the history of the country. Although this book does focus on the relationship between the Philippines and America, it's a pretty comprehensive history of the country, from the arrival of Magellan through Cory Aquino. Karnow is a good storyteller and, I think, a fairly objective historian. I was kind of hoping to find in this book some Filipino heroe Very good, and I would recommend it to anyone with an interest in the Philippines--particularly Americans who, like me, haven't had much exposure to the history of the country. I was kind of hoping to find in this book some Filipino heroes to look up to, and while there are certainly some good people, no one is put on a pedestal, even Karnow's personal friend Ninoy Aquino. Sep 02, Dream rated it did not like it Shelves: horrid. Revisionist history that makes widely reactionary conclusions without much backing, such as the assertion that Filipinos "submitted voluntarily to their own exploitation" and the imperialist beliefs that the Philippines would not have formed its own infrastructure had it not been for American intervention. San Juan Jr. View all 4 comments. Aug 05, Jed rated it really liked it. The beautiful archipelago of 7, islands and home to a bunch of crazy islanders including my mother. Ask Magellan. Just kiddin, ma! Salamat po, for such an illuminating book about the engrossing history of the Philippine islands. The book is a panoramic study and includes, history of the year colonization from Spain, the blundering attempt by America to purchase and make the P. Okay, the last bit I added, but my copy has one. Feb 27, Alex Zakharov rated it liked it. In preparation for a trip to the Philippines, I picked Karnow up as ostensibly the least biased and best- written historical account of the country. He primarily concentrates on the 20th century, understandable given the dearth of material otherwise. Overall a pretty decent read, and perhaps an indispensable one if one is thinking of visiting the region. Also, a nice coverage of American foreign policy dilemmas and debates at the turn of 19th century. Outline and notes to self: Pre-colonial histor In preparation for a trip to the Philippines, I picked Karnow up as ostensibly the least biased and best-written historical account of the country. Chinese trading posts across most of SE Asia, including Ph. Arab traders bring Islam to Malaya, reaching Ph. Brutal trip, makes it to Cebu in , converts one tribal chief Humabon , but gets killed by another Lapu Lapu. Spanish Colonization - After Magellan 50 years of indecision by Spain, but Mexican Spaniards eventually convince the queen to colonize Ph. Chinese and Spanish influence. Mestizo politics. Intellectual, educated in Europe, reformer, not a revolutionary. Executed by Spaniards. A bit of a clusterfuck. Aguinaldo captured in , officially ending the war, but insurgency continues for another decade, including Moro war with Muslims in the south. Still — first parliament in Asia. Resolution for 10yr path to full independence. The latter despises McArthur. Wainwright takes most of the hard fighting, McArthur gets the glory. Bataan Death March — horrific. Manila atrocities. Huks commies most successful, historically significant for next 30 years. Manila worst-hit Allied city after Warsaw. After the war - Fate of collaborators. Theme throughout the book of how throughout history illustrados shift loyalties among Spaniards, nationalists, Americans, Japanese. Roxas wins. US bases. Fears of communism. Huks outmaneuvered politically in parliament, leads to Huks uprising Luis Taruc. Cleans up crime, thus gaining support of some F. Briefly dated Imelda at some point. Marcos and Ninoy family clans had plenty of overlapping business connections and interests. Marcos concerned with image in US. Stays in US One plausible theory is that Imelda and general Ver were plotting a coup, and Ver had N assassinated. Today, Ninoy, like Rizal, has as a borderline saint-martyr status. Quietly helps Cory prepare to campaign. Sep 13, Jason Friedlander rated it it was amazing. Jan 10, Carina Salazar Foley rated it really liked it. This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This book covers a large span of Philippine history from Magellan to Macros. It's a history book that flows well and reads as a story. The focus is the US involvement in the islands. As the Philippines votes today between an array of controversial candidates, Karnow's comment "To this day, [Filipinos] are trying to define their national identity," remains as relevant as ever. I hope to one day read a book covering a similar timeframe during Philippine history but from the perspective of a Filipi This book covers a large span of Philippine history from Magellan to Macros. I hope to one day read a book covering a similar timeframe during Philippine history but from the perspective of a Filipino. Jan 01, Joe Perez rated it it was amazing Shelves: history. Great book for Filipinos, Americans of Filipino descent, and for anyone who wants to learn more about America's role as a colonial power Stanley Karnow's book is an excellent read. I really enjoyed it a lot. Jan 02, Ryan Mcconville rated it really liked it. I read this before a trip to the Philippines and it really helped me understand the historical context of the country. It is a pretty dense read - so not likely great for someone who wants a quick, breezy intro. History buffs on the other hand will likely really enjoy it. Dec 11, Stefania Dzhanamova rated it it was amazing Shelves: us-foreign-policy. As far as I can judge, it is not only well-written, but also a valuable historical work. In his book, Stanley Karnow has included a profound account of the pre-acquisition island history. Starting with the era of Spanish rule, when priests and brute governors deliberately kept the Filipinos in ignorance and submission, he also observes the period of intense Chinese cultural influence. Logically, the book can be divided into three parts: before the War of , the War of , and after the conflict. The author dedicates a considerable amount of pages to the Spanish- American War. Although the author officially announced the denouement of the conflict in August, , he calmly led the War to the end of the year and into , but now with only two belligerents left — the USA and the Philippines. Another reason for the peaceful relations between the mother country and the new colonies was that the islands were never treated as colonies in the common sense of the word. The locals were constantly assured that they are US citizens with the same rights as the burghers of New York or Boston. This way, without actually having a citizenship, the locals were content and well predisposed towards the States till , when, after some resurrections in the previous years, the islands finally received their independence. Giving an account of their post-American-rule history, Karnow again proves his point that the US administration on the Philippines was the most successful one — since , the author indicates, the country has seen nothing but poverty and corruption. I think every State Department employee assigned to the Philippines reads this Pulitzer prize-winning book, or is told to read this book and never completes it. It's comprehensive, even as the author reveals his biases and maintains his own opinions as the primary source. One should remember that while his experience in the Philippines is extensive, it is not comprehensive. His own observations serve as primary source, and he gives his own spin on history. That said, he has researched things wel I think every State Department employee assigned to the Philippines reads this Pulitzer prize-winning book, or is told to read this book and never completes it. That said, he has researched things well from Magellan to Marcos. Another book I recommend to people is Mixed Blessing: The Impact the American Colonial Experience on Politics and Society in the Philippines edited by McFerson which is a compilation of essays written years after Karnow's book; that book also contains more statistics that I found useful. I consider the books complementary. James M. The author was friends with Ninoy Aquino and his wife Cory, and the friendship plays a critical role in the chapters regarding that family. The friendship biases him, surely, but it also gave him unique windows into their lives that no one else would have. Karnow chronicles the good, the bad, and the ugly bits of U. He also details various intrigues of the political lives of Philippine Presidents as seen through the workings of various CIA handlers, U. Ambassadors, and U. One major thing I gleaned is that an administration change-- from Republican to Democrat-- has always had large foreign policy implications, causing swings overnight in U. This was seen most dramatically when Woodrow Wilson and the Democrats came into power and Francis Burton Harrison became a pro-independence Governor General, rapidly moving to "Filipinize" the civil service over an 8 year period in contrast to the Republican administrations who roughly wanted to keep the Philippines a colony indefinitely. While no president fares well, Reagan probably fares the worst in the book. There is plenty more to glean about the culture of the Philippines, the history of landed gentry owning the power, the corruption, etc. Karnow pays special attention to documenting much of the monetary value of the Marcos' corruption, something needed as many people today are in denial or yearning for the "good old days. There are some typos and factual points I would quibble about but it's hard not to give this comprehensive a volume five stars. Mar 15, Stan Rea rated it really liked it. The emphasis in this book is more on America's role in the Philippines which begins in earnest in the late 19th century. There are also some very interesting items that help explain a lot about how and why the Philippines are the way they are today. There are three things working against the book. First, the book is a product of the Cold The emphasis in this book is more on America's role in the Philippines which begins in earnest in the late 19th century. First, the book is a product of the Cold War. Written in the late s, the threat of Communisim is still very real and the Soviet Union is still the big bad guy. When it was written this wasn't a problem. However reading the book 30 years later, the constant references to Communist threats and takeovers are dated. Second as is typical of most histories that lead up to the present, the level of detail s increases as you get closer to the present day. In this particular case the last chapter is almost incomprehensible for the who, what, where, when, why and how of the writing. The last two chapters read more like a long newspaper story rather than a seasoned history. I read an edition printed in or so. I believe there were later editions but I was unable to find them which may have allowed a smoother analysis of what was going on. Finally, the author makes himself a part of the story. Not a large part and not in a strange way like Morris biography of Reagan but he's in there. As you read toward the end of the story and the rise and fall of the Marcos dynasty and the rise of Cory Aquino he points out quite often his personal feelings about the players and his likes and dislikes about them. May 20, Jason Pangilinan rated it really liked it. For what it was, it was good— comprehensive and fair. For what it claims to be based on packaging it fell short. The people of the Philippines have been used and abused throughout history, from the arrival of Magellan and his men, the Spanish, the friars of the Catholic Church, American intervention, and worst of all, under the control of one of their own, Ferdinand Marcos. The author, who was a correspondent based in Asia for several publications, makes it clear that theft, chicanery, and self-interest have plagued Filipinos for a very long time. This book was published in ; it would be interesting to The people of the Philippines have been used and abused throughout history, from the arrival of Magellan and his men, the Spanish, the friars of the Catholic Church, American intervention, and worst of all, under the control of one of their own, Ferdinand Marcos. This book was published in ; it would be interesting to see an update of how the author views changes to the country since then. Oct 03, Quinn Crossley rated it it was ok. I couldn't get past the first fifty pages. This book is quite harsh on the Philippine people. The War with Mexico by Justin H. Schlesinger Jr. Larkin The Old Northwest by R. White and Jean Schneider Potter completed and edited by Don E. Chandler Jr. Fehrenbacher McCraw The Heavens and the Earth by Walter A. Neely Jr. Rakove Summer for the Gods by Edward J. Burrows and Mike Wallace Freedom from Fear by David M. Fenn Custer's Trials by T. Caleb McDaniel Categories : non-fiction books 20th- century history books English-language books Pulitzer Prize for History-winning works History books about the United States History of the Philippines — Random House books Asian history book stubs Philippines stubs. Hidden categories: Subscription required using via Pages containing links to subscription-only content All stub articles. Namespaces Article Talk. Views Read Edit View history. Help Learn to edit Community portal Recent changes Upload file. In Our Image: America's Empire in the Philippines - Stanley Karnow - Google книги

What they found in the Philippines was a set of ties, both real and kinship— the antithesis of the ideals of America wherein they promoted devolution and welfare for all. There also exist the feelings of gratitude towards the United States imbued in the hearts of the Filipinos. Moreover, the predication of the American foreign policy on self-interest instead of sentimentality ignored the Filipino view, which then disappointed the latter. Letting go, and holding on At present, from an American perspective, it is irrational to let go of the pearl of the orient. From a point-of-view predicated on self-interest, the geopolitical and geospatial capabilities the U. The Philippines, being the U. Philippines is their pivot to Asian geopolitics. Moreover, proper administration, and discipline must be imposed. The former, there must be proper use, and most importantly respect of the Philippine soil. The latter, on the other hand, must be practiced by the troops they send out to the country. Several incidences have long occurred that involved American soldiers taking advantage of their position. From the U. At present, from a Filipino perspective, in my opinion, compromises must be made. I do not advocate for the total end of the relationship, we have been through a lot after all, nor do I advocate for holding on to the present state of the relationship. At present, we have a president who is clearly more progressive, or even more radical than most before him. The people, especially the youth, are becoming more politically and socially aware of the pathologies of the modern political system. These must be honed, and serve as the scintillating factor to push for our independence from modern day imperialism. Though we claim to be sovereign, we are still under the presence of imperialism. In my opinion, it is time to let go of the present relationship, and regress into something less; in simple analogy, from best fiends to acquaintances; from lovers to friends. Much like an ordinary relationship, the two nations have grown extremely comfortable with each other developing a somewhat deep connection wherein the other cannot let go of the other. The relationship has become toxic with the two nations, especially the other, developing too much dependence on the other. Moreover, an independent foreign policy would need an educated citizenry. The success of other nations, for instance China, is deeply-rooted in the existence of its national identity. The Philippines, I agree with Karnow , lacks this. For a successful independence, one must first know thyself including its history and its present, to be able to successfully execute a better future. Though independent, the Philippines must still form allies with other nations, but of course with the right proximity— not too far nor too close, but just right. The author used rhetoric that made the book poetic, and an easy read. Though Karnow succeeds in divulging the flaws and self-interest of the Americans, there still lacks a local flavor in the narration of the events that has transpired. Much like most complicated relationships, that of the Philippines and U. Moreover, the duration of the relationship nor the shared experiences should not serve as basis to continue the relationship. In simple analogy, what is a few years of history compared to a future of more years that may surpass the number of years of history. Though it may be hard to let go of what is comfortable, it will be worth it if it means self-growth and self-development. It is saddening to read about the past Philippine presidents who, what it seemed like, sold the Philippines to foreign interests. What the Philippines, and Filipinos lack is the sense of being pro-country. More than anything else, being pro-country, and pro- people should be the driving mechanism of any politician in office. To add, national identity must be given importance to. The development, or reviving of national identity must be seen as something vital to the soul of the country. At present, the Philippines is lead by a president that contradicts himself; that says something and does the other; that spurs a lot of support, and opposition. Though a progressive, and a radical, he has to be stable more than anything else. The image the president is playing must be able to sustain the country in the long run. Ultimately, what the Philippine government needs to be is vigilant, and rational in the global arena. The global system is changing, and the country must adapt to this fast-changing world system, or we will be eaten alive. In our image: America's empire in the Philippines. Add to Cart. Any Condition Any Condition. See all 9 - All listings for this product. No ratings or reviews yet No ratings or reviews yet. Be the first to write a review. Best Selling in Nonfiction See all. Bill o'Reilly's Killing Ser. When Women Pray Hardcover T. Jakes Christian Inspirational No ratings or reviews yet. Save on Nonfiction Trending price is based on prices over last 90 days. You may also like. What have we left there? The book was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for History. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. In our image: America's empire in the Philippines. Random House. Retrieved 25 December — via Internet Archive. The Washington Post. Archived from the original on Retrieved 25 December Pulitzer Prize for History. The War with Mexico by Justin H. Schlesinger Jr. Larkin The Old Northwest by R. In Our Image: America's Empire in the Philippines by Stanley Karnow

Moreover, their failure to establish an effective and efficient administration brought about patronage and corruption. Benevolent assimilation Filipinos were deemed easier to co-opt than its other Southeast Asian neighbors. Philippine history was that of a colonial history. In pre-colonial period, lacking in a centralized authority and national exclusivity, the country and its people became more receptive and vulnerable to foreign influence. Benevolent assimilation was what they strived for in their conquest of the Philippines. With the Americans modelling the Filipinos after themselves, the underlying theory was that the latter would be converted by the values of the former leading to their own transformation. To enumerate: education, more specifically public education; the English language; public health; infrastructures; to mundane everyday life things such as food, and street names; and most significant of all, republican institutions. Moreover, American teachers were sent around the archipelago to educate the Filipinos about the fundamentals of democracy. With the end of the Taft era arose Harrison, a progressive who purged the colonial bureaucracy brought about by the Americans. Filipinization was put into effect wherein the Filipinos were left in charge of their own affairs for the next three decades of continued American rule. Moreover, though progressive, the policies then were only liberal by a colonial standard. The educational system brought a development of a national language for the Filipinos. The Americans introduced democratic institutions to the Filipinos. The same people wanted to preserved economic and social reforms that would abolish the feudal system, and thus their social status even though it perpetuated the widening gap between the rich and the poor. American officials attempted to resolve the inequalities only proving to be too late because the Filipinos were then sovereign. Moreover, Filipinos still longed for American patronage. National Identity Even in pre-colonial times, the Filipino identity was not centralized, nor united. There existed a presence of diverse cultures from tribes, and provinces, but the grey area lies on the existence of a national identity, or lack thereof. Even before the Americans, the Spanish labelled the Filipinos as uneducated and barbaric. The Americans were no different, wanting to impose their values and ideals. At present, the lack of education among the youth, especially that of history becomes problematic. Filipinos profess love for their country, Karnow stated, moreover, they love themselves more. At present time, the signing of Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement reflects the relationship of the two nations. This proves that the Philippines continues to be under imperial United States. Even at present, U. Filipinos, up to this day, continue to be blinded by the inviting hearsays they get from those in the United States for a promise of greener pastures, and a better future. More and more Filipinos pursue the goal of citizenship in the United States, with a great number even choosing to remain illegally undocumented than to go back to the Philippines. Up to present, Filipinos seem to think of Americans as people superior to them. This is evident in mundane day-to-day activities of ordinary Filipinos. It is saddening to see this— that even in our own soil, Filipinos see foreigners are better people. Moreover, the Filipinos cannot be blamed because of the way history portrays the Americans as saviors, or friends instead of exploiters, and foes. Aquino is the mother of Philippine Democracy, yes, we give her credit for that. But, in my opinion, based on the narratives of Karnow, one could infer that she sold our country to the Untied States. My views about her have changed from my days in St. The Philippines holds one of the longest continuous period of Western imperialism in world history. I agree with what he said about the Americans and their believed manifest destiny, and even abidance by God. He gave well-researched accounts of history as evidences to support his claims. He gathered first hand data from the people he knew. US-PH Special Relationship The fact that events of the past are ingrained on the history of every former colony is undeniable. Self-duplication, and sacred duty Both the Americans and the Filipinos hold dearly that they share a common public philosophy, Karnow , claims that in reality, their values are drastically dissimilar. With American imperialism starting out as self-duplication, Taft proved it to be a challenging feat. What they found in the Philippines was a set of ties, both real and kinship— the antithesis of the ideals of America wherein they promoted devolution and welfare for all. There also exist the feelings of gratitude towards the United States imbued in the hearts of the Filipinos. Moreover, the predication of the American foreign policy on self-interest instead of sentimentality ignored the Filipino view, which then disappointed the latter. Letting go, and holding on At present, from an American perspective, it is irrational to let go of the pearl of the orient. From a point-of-view predicated on self-interest, the geopolitical and geospatial capabilities the U. The Philippines, being the U. Philippines is their pivot to Asian geopolitics. Moreover, proper administration, and discipline must be imposed. The former, there must be proper use, and most importantly respect of the Philippine soil. The latter, on the other hand, must be practiced by the troops they send out to the country. Several incidences have long occurred that involved American soldiers taking advantage of their position. From the U. At present, from a Filipino perspective, in my opinion, compromises must be made. I do not advocate for the total end of the relationship, we have been through a lot after all, nor do I advocate for holding on to the present state of the relationship. At present, we have a president who is clearly more progressive, or even more radical than most before him. The people, especially the youth, are becoming more politically and socially aware of the pathologies of the modern political system. These must be honed, and serve as the scintillating factor to push for our independence from modern day imperialism. Though we claim to be sovereign, we are still under the presence of imperialism. In my opinion, it is time to let go of the present relationship, and regress into something less; in simple analogy, from best fiends to acquaintances; from lovers to friends. Much like an ordinary relationship, the two nations have grown extremely comfortable with each other developing a somewhat deep connection wherein the other cannot let go of the other. The relationship has become toxic with the two nations, especially the other, developing too much dependence on the other. Moreover, an independent foreign policy would need an educated citizenry. The success of other nations, for instance China, is deeply-rooted in the existence of its national identity. The Philippines, I agree with Karnow , lacks this. McCraw The Heavens and the Earth by Walter A. Neely Jr. Rakove Summer for the Gods by Edward J. Burrows and Mike Wallace Freedom from Fear by David M. Fenn Custer's Trials by T. Caleb McDaniel Categories : non-fiction books 20th-century history books English- language books Pulitzer Prize for History-winning works History books about the United States History of the Philippines — Random House books Asian history book stubs Philippines stubs. Hidden categories: Subscription required using via Pages containing links to subscription-only content All stub articles. Namespaces Article Talk. Views Read Edit View history. Help Learn to edit Community portal Recent changes Upload file. Download as PDF Printable version. Add links. Cover of the first edition. Philippine—American War. Pulitzer Prize for History This article about a non-fiction book on history of the Philippines is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

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While using the Philippines as its focus, the book walks the reader through turn of the 20th century US foreign politics, which could perhaps best be described as fumbling towards a semi-benevolent American empire. The lives and careers of Taft, Teddy Roosevelt, I grew up in the Philippines, but I feel like I learned more about Philippine history reading this book than I picked up in 12 years in the country. The lives and careers of Taft, Teddy Roosevelt, and other important US figures are examined, often in a less than flattering light. Fascinating book. It's long, but I'll probably read it again. In , certain people came to power in America who believed the time had come for America to become a global power. They noticed Spain was losing control of its empire and saw an opportunity to take the territory for the United States. The Spanish-American war barely lasted a month, and all the USA did was punch Spain as it was already falling, declaring glorious victory and asserting the United States as a global power. Spain had ruled Cuba and the Philippines for centuries through the Catholic In , certain people came to power in America who believed the time had come for America to become a global power. Spain had ruled Cuba and the Philippines for centuries through the Catholic Church, setting it up as a series of fiefdoms controlled by the local friars. The crown allowed Spanish citizens to purchase land and set up plantations, but not the natives. Spanish colonists often intermarried with the local peoples, and their land became handed down over the centuries and formed a landowning gentry that controlled everything while the peasants worked for subsistence on land they could never hope to possess. The idea of equality with their Spanish rulers began to take root in the landowning class, some of whom were tired of being treated as inferiors when they had education and wealth and light-colored skin. Independence movements began to take root among these classes as early as the s. When Cuba revolted against Spanish exploitation, some in the Philippines took up arms as well, and they might have overwhelmed the ailing Spanish forces had the United States not pounced on the opportunity. Long after Spain was defeated, rebels continued to fight for self-determination, and the US fought a brutal campaign to assert their authority over the islands. The rebel forces were eventually forced to surrender, and now the US had finally become a global power. Motivations varied, and the issue divided the nation. Some wanted the territory as a gateway to trade with China and India. Others desired to convert the people into Americans, spreading civilization and reason to people who, in their eyes, desperately needed saving. Some businessmen saw opportunity to establish overseas operations for cheap. Different people in favor of America becoming an imperial power had different ways to justify it. Anti- imperialists still held enormous sway in the government. From the beginning, the US coddled the landowning class, who switched loyalties whenever it suited them, doing anything to preserve their status and influence while the rest of the people lived in abject poverty. Because of this, and a culture the Americans could not understand, little changed. Family is the modern continuation of tribal identity, which was how society functioned in precolonial times: the village chief had absolute authority, and his family was exempt from menial labor. Catholicism helped extend these ties to both blood and ritual associations. Family functions take precedence over school and work, leaving many teachers frustrated the children did not attend school regularly, and leaving US governors frustrated their Filipino officers regularly used their stations to enrich themselves and their friends and families. Government, the police, and industry became crony institutions existing to elevate the social and financial status of the people in them and punish their enemies. Under the US control, the Philippines was not permitted to begin business ventures that might compete with US businesses. They had to accept goods imported from the US without any price discrimination, effectively making the Philippine market captive to large US corporations, eliminating any chance the islands might have had to build up their own industry and commerce. They were economically dependent on the USA, and the only people who benefited from this arrangement was the landowning class—some sixty families who owned all of the land, government, and industry, and the rest of the people remained indentured to this nobility. The US pledged to grant the nation autonomy, but with a catch: the economic arrangement would continue. The islands had to allow US goods in and could not charge tariffs or differentiate between a product made in the Philippines and one imported from the US. Quotas would eventually be instated, but by then the Philippines was completely reliant on US goods. During the Japanese occupation of the islands after their attack on Pearl Harbor, the landowning class often collaborated with the Japanese to retain their status and power. After the war, the US did not prosecute these collaborators, despite promises to hold them accountable as enemies of the United States. The US restored them to power, and this only confirmed the US did not care about the people at large but was only looking out for the interests of the upper class. The gentry had become richer under US dominance, and the poor saw only empty promises. The people began to rise up and fight back. He and his family ran the country as their own personal piggy bank for twenty years while the US was preoccupied in Vietnam. The US looked the other way for the sake of the military bases, vital to the war in Indochina. Marcos was eventually overthrown by an impromptu election he himself called for. His successor, however, could do little but pick up the pieces of the country Marcos had driven into crippling debt. Instead of dismantling the system that had led to such unrest, she merely reestablished the system that had kept landowners in power and the peasants in the mud, looking out for those of her own social class. The United States hoped to change the Philippines into a bastion of Western civilization in the East, but failing to force change on the established gentry, who controlled land, industry, politics, and all other aspects of the nation, ensured nothing would ever improve for anyone but the rich minority. All promises of land reforms to improve the condition of the poor never happened due to the landowners fighting every attempt at meaningful change. Cronyism still runs the country, and it remains a practically feudal society to this day. The US may look down on their corrupt democracy, but cronyism and nepotism run the world. It just happens to be less of a secret in the Philippines. It is not a simple era. The motivations for taking control of the Philippines were not simple. The outcome was also not simple. Meaningful change could never happen so long as the rich resisted it, and so long as the US caved in to the demands of the rich. View 2 comments. Dec 18, Tara rated it really liked it. This was a really readable, interesting account of the history of the Philippines, from Spanish colonization up to Cory Aquino's presidency. Definitely recommend it to anyone traveling to the country. It gave me a better understanding of Filipino society and culture while I was there. The author has spent decades covering the country as a journalist, and includes really interesting insight and anecdotes from his time there. Good book. Despite Americans' continual debates about the nature of their modern "empire," or about their supposedly imperialistic foreign policy, there is one extremely relevant case of American empire that almost no one discusses, the Philippines. And yet, as Stanley Karnow shows in this engaging history, the Philippines represents the one place where Americans engaged in a classic colonial adventure, where we tried to govern tens of millions of foreign people for decades from to Yet America Despite Americans' continual debates about the nature of their modern "empire," or about their supposedly imperialistic foreign policy, there is one extremely relevant case of American empire that almost no one discusses, the Philippines. Yet America seems to have forgotten the experiment. The Philippine conquest started by chance. In a bid to save the Cubans from Spanish perfidy, America attacked the Spanish empire across the globe. Admiral Dewey smashed the Spanish fleet off the Philippines, and U. After winning the battle, however, it turned out the Americans were in possession of a massive piece of that Spanish empire. While we had promised to give Cubans their freedom, we had said nothing about this distant archipelago, which President WIlliam McKinley, when he appointed his first ambassador there, couldn't find on a map. McKinley, however, claimed that God had told him in a dream to take possession of the islands, and the treaty confirming this dream only passed the Senate by the tie-breaking vote of the Vice President. Although the United States brutally put down an insurgency led by the wealthy native leader Emilio Aguinaldo, overall, the U. From the beginning, the U. S allowed the Philippines to form political parties advocating independence, to vote in local and parliamentary elections, and to print their own newspapers. Unlike European countries who refused to teach most natives the colonizers' language, America began an unprecedented effort to cover the island with English language primary schools. Fond memories of U. Twice, when the U. Congress willingly voted for Philippine independence admittedly at the instigation of US sugar and tobacco barons who feared Philippine competition in and , Philippine legislators, including the nominal hero of independence Manuel Quezon, secretly asked that the U. Only after General Douglas MacArthur whose father Arthur MacArthur had actually led the struggle against Philippine insurgents liberated the islands from a brutal Japanese dictatorship earning him near godlike status there did the U. So despite America's obvious mistakes, the nation has much to be proud of in its time in the Philippines. It brought genuine advancement, and gave the nation up willingly to a democratic alternative. This explains why today Filipinos still admire the U. The book lags when it deals with the long pre-American Spanish empire, and when it goes into the innumerable twists and turns of Philippine politics post, but on the whole it offers a vivid reminder of one of the U. Feb 15, David rated it really liked it Shelves: read-history. I blogged about this excellent book here. I learned that my eighth-grade English teacher was right: if you really want to retain what you've read, try writing about it after you read it. When this book was published, some readers probably went directly to the final chapters — a detailed narrative of recently-passed events before, during, and after the downfall of the Ferdinand Marcos regime — because they seemed the most important part of the book. Now, twenty years later, this narrative has lost I blogged about this excellent book here. At the same time, the first half of the book, formerly prologue, has now taken on a possible new significance as a distant mirror of the current troubles of the USA's occupying armies in the Middle East. I think this parallel also struck American author and filmmaker John Sayles , which is why he recently produced both a book and a movie about this darkly ambiguous episode in America's history. You can tell in this book that Karnow has Vietnam on the brain. The consistent references might be a little mystifying to someone who wasn't aware of the extent that the Vietnam War transfixed public attention and became the defining event in the lives of many who were there. Still, that's a small quibble in a book as good as this one. Sep 11, Nick Klagge rated it really liked it Shelves: filipino. Very good, and I would recommend it to anyone with an interest in the Philippines--particularly Americans who, like me, haven't had much exposure to the history of the country. Although this book does focus on the relationship between the Philippines and America, it's a pretty comprehensive history of the country, from the arrival of Magellan through Cory Aquino. Karnow is a good storyteller and, I think, a fairly objective historian. I was kind of hoping to find in this book some Filipino heroe Very good, and I would recommend it to anyone with an interest in the Philippines--particularly Americans who, like me, haven't had much exposure to the history of the country. I was kind of hoping to find in this book some Filipino heroes to look up to, and while there are certainly some good people, no one is put on a pedestal, even Karnow's personal friend Ninoy Aquino. Sep 02, Dream rated it did not like it Shelves: horrid. Revisionist history that makes widely reactionary conclusions without much backing, such as the assertion that Filipinos "submitted voluntarily to their own exploitation" and the imperialist beliefs that the Philippines would not have formed its own infrastructure had it not been for American intervention. San Juan Jr. View all 4 comments. Aug 05, Jed rated it really liked it. The beautiful archipelago of 7, islands and home to a bunch of crazy islanders including my mother. Ask Magellan. Just kiddin, ma! Salamat po, for such an illuminating book about the engrossing history of the Philippine islands. The book is a panoramic study and includes, history of the year colonization from Spain, the blundering attempt by America to purchase and make the P. Okay, the last bit I added, but my copy has one. Feb 27, Alex Zakharov rated it liked it. In preparation for a trip to the Philippines, I picked Karnow up as ostensibly the least biased and best- written historical account of the country. He primarily concentrates on the 20th century, understandable given the dearth of material otherwise. Overall a pretty decent read, and perhaps an indispensable one if one is thinking of visiting the region. Also, a nice coverage of American foreign policy dilemmas and debates at the turn of 19th century. Outline and notes to self: Pre-colonial histor In preparation for a trip to the Philippines, I picked Karnow up as ostensibly the least biased and best-written historical account of the country. Chinese trading posts across most of SE Asia, including Ph. Arab traders bring Islam to Malaya, reaching Ph. Brutal trip, makes it to Cebu in , converts one tribal chief Humabon , but gets killed by another Lapu Lapu. Spanish Colonization - After Magellan 50 years of indecision by Spain, but Mexican Spaniards eventually convince the queen to colonize Ph. Chinese and Spanish influence. Mestizo politics. Intellectual, educated in Europe, reformer, not a revolutionary. Executed by Spaniards. A bit of a clusterfuck. Aguinaldo captured in , officially ending the war, but insurgency continues for another decade, including Moro war with Muslims in the south. Still — first parliament in Asia. Resolution for 10yr path to full independence. The latter despises McArthur. Wainwright takes most of the hard fighting, McArthur gets the glory. Bataan Death March — horrific. Manila atrocities. Huks commies most successful, historically significant for next 30 years. Manila worst-hit Allied city after Warsaw. After the war - Fate of collaborators. Theme throughout the book of how throughout history illustrados shift loyalties among Spaniards, nationalists, Americans, Japanese. Roxas wins. US bases. Fears of communism. Huks outmaneuvered politically in parliament, leads to Huks uprising Luis Taruc. Cleans up crime, thus gaining support of some F. Briefly dated Imelda at some point. Marcos and Ninoy family clans had plenty of overlapping business connections and interests. Marcos concerned with image in US. Stays in US One plausible theory is that Imelda and general Ver were plotting a coup, and Ver had N assassinated. Today, Ninoy, like Rizal, has as a borderline saint-martyr status. Quietly helps Cory prepare to campaign. Sep 13, Jason Friedlander rated it it was amazing. Jan 10, Carina Salazar Foley rated it really liked it. This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This book covers a large span of Philippine history from Magellan to Macros. It's a history book that flows well and reads as a story. The focus is the US involvement in the islands. As the Philippines votes today between an array of controversial candidates, Karnow's comment "To this day, [Filipinos] are trying to define their national identity," remains as relevant as ever. I hope to one day read a book covering a similar timeframe during Philippine history but from the perspective of a Filipi This book covers a large span of Philippine history from Magellan to Macros. I hope to one day read a book covering a similar timeframe during Philippine history but from the perspective of a Filipino. Jan 01, Joe Perez rated it it was amazing Shelves: history. Great book for Filipinos, Americans of Filipino descent, and for anyone who wants to learn more about America's role as a colonial power Stanley Karnow's book is an excellent read. I really enjoyed it a lot. Jan 02, Ryan Mcconville rated it really liked it. I read this before a trip to the Philippines and it really helped me understand the historical context of the country. It is a pretty dense read - so not likely great for someone who wants a quick, breezy intro. History buffs on the other hand will likely really enjoy it. Dec 11, Stefania Dzhanamova rated it it was amazing Shelves: us-foreign-policy. As far as I can judge, it is not only well-written, but also a valuable historical work. In his book, Stanley Karnow has included a profound account of the pre-acquisition island history. Starting with the era of Spanish rule, when priests and brute governors deliberately kept the Filipinos in ignorance and submission, he also observes the period of intense Chinese cultural influence. Logically, the book can be divided into three parts: before the War of , the War of , and after the conflict. The author dedicates a considerable amount of pages to the Spanish- American War. Although the author officially announced the denouement of the conflict in August, , he calmly led the War to the end of the year and into , but now with only two belligerents left — the USA and the Philippines. Another reason for the peaceful relations between the mother country and the new colonies was that the islands were never treated as colonies in the common sense of the word. The locals were constantly assured that they are US citizens with the same rights as the burghers of New York or Boston. This way, without actually having a citizenship, the locals were content and well predisposed towards the States till , when, after some resurrections in the previous years, the islands finally received their independence. Giving an account of their post-American-rule history, Karnow again proves his point that the US administration on the Philippines was the most successful one — since , the author indicates, the country has seen nothing but poverty and corruption. I think every State Department employee assigned to the Philippines reads this Pulitzer prize-winning book, or is told to read this book and never completes it. It's comprehensive, even as the author reveals his biases and maintains his own opinions as the primary source. One should remember that while his experience in the Philippines is extensive, it is not comprehensive. His own observations serve as primary source, and he gives his own spin on history. That said, he has researched things wel I think every State Department employee assigned to the Philippines reads this Pulitzer prize-winning book, or is told to read this book and never completes it. That said, he has researched things well from Magellan to Marcos. Another book I recommend to people is Mixed Blessing: The Impact the American Colonial Experience on Politics and Society in the Philippines edited by McFerson which is a compilation of essays written years after Karnow's book; that book also contains more statistics that I found useful. I consider the books complementary. What did we do there? What have we left there? The book was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for History. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. In our image: America's empire in the Philippines. Random House. Retrieved 25 December — via Internet Archive. The Washington Post. Archived from the original on Retrieved 25 December Pulitzer Prize for History. The War with Mexico by Justin H. Schlesinger Jr. Larkin The Old Northwest by R. White and Jean Schneider Potter completed and edited by Don E. Chandler Jr. Fehrenbacher McCraw The Heavens and the Earth by Walter A.

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