Text Dependent Questions

1. What is the purpose of this document?

2. Who is the intended audience for this document? Identify three quotes that support your claim.

3. Why are the words BENEVOLENT ASSIMILATION called out in paragraph 9?

4. Explain the treatment that will be given to those people who cooperate with the military government. What happens to those who don't support it?

5. What evidence from the text shows that the United States will allow Filipinos to continue to run their local governments and keep their property?

6. Identify three quotes that reveal the paternalism/social darwinism of the United States toward the Philippines.

7. What justification does the USA give for maintaining its authority over the Philippines?

Explanation:

1. The purpose of the document is to detail out the major roles and responsibilities of the military commander of the United States of America to establish the rule of law in their recently acquired territory, the Philippines.

2. The intended audience is the Military Commander.

" In performing this duty the military commander is enjoined to make known to the inhabitants of the Philippine Islands the authority of the United States is to be exerted..."

"It will be the duty of the commander of the forces of occupation to announce..."

" Finally, it should be the earnest wish and paramount aim of the military adminstration to win the confidence..."

3. The words were called out so that the Military Commander would make it a primary message of his administration, to convince the people to believe the words.

4. Those who support the new government will enjoy it's support and protection, whereas those who do not support will be dealt with by the law as firmly as possible.

5. The text points out that though military laws of the United States reign supreme, municipal laws of the territory with respect to private rights and property and the repression of crime are to be considered as continuing in force.

6. "...and by proving to them to that the mission of the United States is of benevolent assimilation substituting the mild sway of Justice and right for arbitrary rule"

"All ports and places in the Philippines Islands in the actual possession of the land and naval forces of the United States will be opened to the commerce of all friendly nations".

"All goods and wares not prohibited for military reasons will be admitted upon payment of such duties and other chargesas shall be in force in the time of their importation".

7. The victory over the Spanish as well as the signing of the treaty of peace between the two nations, indicating the ceding of any previous authority the Spanish had to the United States of America.