The podcast episode delves into America's acquisition of the Philippines in 1898, exploring the shift in American attitudes towards overseas expansion and the racial tensions inherent in the decision to annex a populous, non-white colony. It highlights the trilemma the United States faced: balancing republican government, expansion, and white supremacy. The discussion covers the Philippine-American War, marked by brutal tactics like the "water cure" and the shocking death toll of hundreds of thousands of Filipinos. The hosts and guest examine the Balangiga Massacre and General Jacob Smith's infamous order to kill all males over ten, revealing the political repercussions and the limited accountability for such atrocities. Ultimately, the conversation explores how the Philippine experience influenced America's subsequent preference for "dollar diplomacy" over direct colonial annexation.
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