Controversial Issues
United States Annexation of the Philippines (1898) 
o	Spanish American War 
•	Spain was losing – US was winning 
•	We send troops to Spanish colony Philippines 
•	War ends- we win 
•	Treaty of Paris 
•	We pay $20 million for Philippines 
o	Debate over annexation 
•	Pro-annexation: Philippines will provide
•	Naval base in Asia
•	Market for manufactured goods 
•	Social Darwinism 
•	We have the duty to civilize lesser people (Christianize, westernize, modernize) 
•	Anti-annexation: 
•	Filipinos would be cheap labor 
•	Imperialism is against our principles of popular sovereignty and freedom (that we fought for in Rev War and incorporated into our Constitution) 
o	Results 
•	Filipinos rebel against annexation and American soldiers under leadership of Aguinaldo 
o	US sets up reconcentration camps that separate rebels from US supporters – thousands Filipinos die 
•	US introduces reforms in education, transportation, healthcare 
•	1946: Philippines gains independence 

	Controversial Issues
Woodrow Wilson proposes membership in the league of Nations (1919) 
o	Fourteen Points: Wilson’s peace plan to prevent all future wars and establish an association of nations 
o	14th point was League of Nations 
o	Treaty of Versailles 
•	Ends war 
•	Many of Wilson’s points not included 
•	League of Nations IS included 
•	US rejects treaty (will not sign) 
•	We don’t want to lose our autonomy or independence 
•	If we joined League we would have to confer with member nations
•	League may bring us into foreign wars
o	League is created without US involvement – it is weak and ineffective – UN later replaces 

Ratification of Prohibition Amendment 
o	Prohibition: banning the manufacture, sale, transportation of alcoholic beverages 
o	18th amendment – 1920 enacts Prohibition  
o	Progressives supported 
o	Why SOME Americans support: 
•	Reduce unemployment, domestic violence, poverty 
o	Why MOST Americans do not support 
•	Gov’t should not regulate people’s morals 
•	Gives gov’t too much power in private lives of the people 
•	Gov’t should not take away rights of the people with amendments 
o	Why difficult to enforce? 
•	Lacked popular support 
•	Organized crime arises and supplies alcohol across the country 
•	Illegal alcohol brings people lots of $$$$ (smuggling, sale, speakeasies) 
o	Repealed by 22nd amendment in 1933