Which group opposed the annexation of the Philippines and the building of an American empire?

• A. Anti-Imperialist
• B. Imperialist
• C. Expansionists
• D. Open Door Advocates

Answer: (A)

When the United States emerged as a world power after the Spanish-American War, a movement argued that annexing the Philippines would betray American ideals. This group, the Anti-Imperialist League, opposed empire-building on moral and political grounds. They said taking control of another people without their consent violated the principle of self-government and the idea that the Constitution should apply everywhere the United States has influence. They warned that governing Filipinos would force the U.S. to spend taxpayer money on military rule, police power, and potential wars, pulling the country into distant conflicts. In short, they believed imperialism contradicted American republican values and would entangle the nation in costly, unwanted entanglements.

Other groups advocated different paths: imperialists supported expanding overseas and adding new territories; expansionists favored growth in general, often through acquisition; Open Door Advocates focused on China and access to markets there, not on whether to annex the Philippines.