Bound to Empire: The United States and the Philippines

by H.W. Brands

From the day Commodore Dewey's battleships destroyed the Spanish fleet at Manila to the closing of the Subic Bay naval base in 1992, America and the Philippines have shared a long and tangled history. It has been a century of war and colonialism, earnest reforms and blatant corruption,
diplomatic maneuvering and political intrigue, an era colored by dramatic events and striking personalities. In Bound to Empire , acclaimed historian H.W. Brands gives us a brilliant account of the American involvement in the Philippines in a sweeping narrative filled with analytical insight.
Ranging from the Spanish-American War to the fall of Ferdinand Marcos and beyond, Brands deftly weaves together the histories of both nations as he assesses America's great experiment with empire. He leaps from the turbulent American scene in the 1890s--the labor unrest, the panic of 1893,
the emergence of Progressivism, the growing tension with Spain--to the shores of the newly acquired Dewey's conquest of Manila, the vicious war against the Philippine insurgents, and the founding of American civilian rule. As Brands takes us through the following century, describing the
efforts to "civilize" the Filipinos, the shaping of Philippine political practices, the impact of General MacArthur, and World War II and the Cold War, he provides fascinating insight into the forces and institutions that made American rule what it was, and the Republic of the Philippines what it is
today. He uncovers the origins of the corruption and nepotism of post-independence Philippine politics, as well as the ambivalence of American rule, in which liberal principles of self-determination clashed with the desire for empire and a preoccupation first with Japan and later with communism.
The book comes right up to the present day, with an incisive account of the rise and fall of Ferdinand Marcos, the accession (and subsequent troubles) of Corazon Aquino, the Communist guerrilla insurgency, and the debate over the American military bases.
"Damn the Americans!" Manuel Quezon once said. "Why don't they tyrannize us more?" Indeed, as Brands writes, American rule in the Philippines was more benign than that of any other colonial power in the Pacific region. Yet it failed to foster a genuine democracy. This fascinating book
explains why, in a perceptive account of a century of empire and its aftermath.

Genres: History

400 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

H.W. Brands is an acclaimed American historian and author of over thirty books on U.S. history, including Pulitzer Prize finalists The First American and Traitor to His Class. He holds the Jack S. Blanton Sr. Chair in History at the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned his PhD. Originally trained in mathematics, Brands turned to history as a way to pursue his passion for writing. His biographical works on figures like Franklin, Jackson, Grant, and both Roosevelts have earned critical and popular praise for their readability and depth. Raised in Oregon and educated at Stanford, Reed College, and Portland State, he began his teaching career in high schools before entering academia. He later taught at Texas A&M and Vanderbilt before returning to UT Austin. Brands challenges conventional reverence for the Founding Fathers, advocating for a more progressive and evolving view of American democracy. In addition to academic works, his commentary has featured in major documentaries. His books, published internationally and translated into multiple languages, examine U.S. political, economic, and cultural development with compelling narrative force. Beyond academia, he is a public intellectual contributing to national conversations on history and governance.

Reviews

[Christian J · Rating 4 out of 5]

The idea that we as a country were unwilling recipients of empire are shattered in this tome. It shows Americans in a less-than-benevolent light, and shares the tragedy which befell the Philippines.

[Abby Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I told myself i was going to skim this for my research paper but actually realized i could not write it without reading it and it was long and hard and the illegal version i downloaded to my kindle had really small font
after reading like most of it yesterday I decided it was in my best interest to write about anti-imperialism bc why are you justifying colonialism ???

[Lewis Noles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good overview of the relationship between the United States and the Philippines since 1898.

[Grace · Rating 1 out of 5]

written in a very casual and readable style but a lot of this approaches apologism for american colonialism tbh