Breakout Room 5: 12 P.M. Discussion Questions Based On Josia
Breakout Room 5 12 Pmdiscussion Questions Based On Josiah Strongs
Discuss the following questions based on Josiah Strong's and Aguinaldo's documents:
1. How does Josiah Strong justify the idea of world domination by Anglo-Saxons?
Answer: Josiah Strong justifies the US attempt at world domination through religion, American values, and the concept of “survival of the fittest.” He believed it was inevitable that non-Christian civilizations would either need to adapt or be dominated by more powerful nations, viewing this as a divine and inevitable process.
2. Why does Aguinaldo think that the United States is betraying its own values? In what ways does Aguinaldo think that Americans misunderstand the Filipinos?
Answer: Aguinaldo believes the US is betraying its values because it forces Filipinos into zones with poor sanitation, starvation, and disease, which contradicts the American ideal of equality. He also argues that Americans misunderstand Filipinos by perceiving them as ignorant savages or uneducated, similar to stereotypes of Indigenous peoples, rather than recognizing their true identity and capacity.
3. How do these documents reflect different definitions of liberty?
Answer: Josiah Strong's perspective reflects a version of liberty rooted in manifest destiny—believing that American expansion was justified and bringing liberty by spreading American governance and values. Emilio Aguinaldo's viewpoint, however, suggests that true liberty involves self-determination, criticizing US actions as analogous to colonial oppression, akin to British rule before the American Revolution.
4. Describe what you see in each of the two cartoons.
Answer: In Louis Dairymple’s “School Begins,” Uncle Sam acts as a teacher overseeing colonies labeled as Cuba, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and the Philippines, who look unhappy and disobedient, while other American states are depicted as more established students. An African American boy cleans windows, a Native boy reads upside down, and a Chinese boy stands outside, implying racial and cultural stereotypes. In Victor Gillam’s “A Lesson for Anti-Expansionists,” Uncle Sam is shown as growing over time from 1783 to 1899, becoming larger and more powerful, symbolizing imperial expansion with many hands offering allegiance, depicting imperial dominance.
5. Compare their messages. Which of the two cartoons is pro-expansionism, and which is against it? Support your claims with specific examples.
Answer: Dairymple’s cartoon advocates for expansionism, portraying the US as a teacher guiding colonies, implying responsibility and benevolence. Conversely, Gillam’s cartoon criticizes imperialism by emphasizing Uncle Sam’s growth and the aggressive nature of expansion, portraying it as overpowering and insatiable.
6. What details of the two cartoons embody the idea of “the white man's burden,” and why do you think they do so? Make sure to address at least two details from one of the cartoons.
Answer: In “School Begins,” Uncle Sam’s role as a stern teacher scolding the children, especially the depiction of the black boy and the native student, embodies the racial condescension associated with “the white man's burden.” The blackboard note about "until they can govern themselves" exemplifies paternalism. In Gillam’s cartoon, Uncle Sam’s larger size and the emerging dominance signify imperialist superiority, a visual metaphor for “the white man’s burden,” emphasizing the perceived duty of Western powers to civilize non-white nations.
7. Share final thoughts on the topic and/or sources.
Answer: It is compelling to see Aguinaldo’s critique of American imperialism, emphasizing that despite pretense of liberty and justice, the US often acts contrary to those principles abroad. His perspective highlights the hypocrisy in US foreign policy and urges a reevaluation of what true liberty entails, especially concerning colonized peoples.