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Evan Malachosky Debate #2 Philippines Annexation Mr. Wimmer 2/7/12  __ Sen. Orville Hitchcock Platt: Annexation Influencer __ Orville Hitchcock Platt, born in 1827 in Litchfield, Connecticut, was appointed to multiple public and local offices before embarking onto the the United States Senate. The Connecticut Senator was very influential in every position he held. His propositions were some of the very best, and led him to become appointed to his position of Senator. Orville was a very well supported man. Orville began locally as a politician and very religious man and eventually became a well-rounded Senator. He was known as an “Old-fashioned Senator” who came from deeply religious parents (Orville Hitchcock Platt). As the annexation of the Philippines began, Platt became influential. Spreading the “Christian Civilization” with the rest of the world fueled his support of the annexation (Marchand). Senator Platt believed the advancement of the colonies was due to the great Christian force behind it. Platt stated in an 1899 Senate speech, “ we have spread that civilization across the continent until it stood at the Pacific Ocean looking ever westward....”(Marchand). He believed we did well enough spreading our nation, that we must imperialize others and share the success. He believed that America’s ownership of the Philippines would improve their lives and gives America another territory to call their own. He was very much pro-annexation and became very influential in the annexation movement. Senator Orville Platt was interested in the advancement of the annexation of the Philippines because of his ideals. His religious beliefs were a keystone reason for his support. His influential ways and speeches led to the eventual annexation of the Philippines, Hawaii, and Cuba (Marchand). His amendment, released in 1903, was the main reason Cuba became annexed by America. Senator Orville Platt was the man who wanted to better the nations America annexed by spreading the Christian civilization. His desire to occupy nations was not fueled by money or resources, but rather belief. Although the current topic of annexing the Philippines came before the annexing of Cuba, his amendment truly expresses how he felt during the Philippines annexing as well, “ The Government of Cuba shall never enter into any treaty or other compact with any foreign power or powers which will impair or tend to impair the independence of Cuba, nor in any manner authorize or permit any foreign power or powers to obtain by colonization or for military or naval purposes, or otherwise, lodgment in or control over any portion of said island.” (Platt). __ Works Cited __

Marchand, Roland. "THE DEBATE OVER THE PHILIPPINES, 1898 - 1900 (MIDDLE SCHOOL)." //The History Project - University of California, Davis//. University of California, 2010. Web. 08 Feb. 2012. "Orville Hitchcock Platt — Infoplease.com." //Infoplease: Encyclopedia, Almanac, Atlas,// // Biographies, Dictionary, Thesaurus. Free Online Reference, Research & // // Homework Help. — Infoplease.com //. Infoplease, 2007. Web. 08 Feb. 2012. Platt, Orville. "Platt Amendment, 1903." //Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley,// // Massachusetts //. Web. 08 Feb. 2012.