War & Dissent – An Online Exhibit

War & Dissent: The U.S. in the Philippines 1898-1915 was exhibited in the Presidio Officers’ Club in 2009. Developed and presented by the Presidio Trust, the exhibit was seen by more than 10,000 visitors, including 1,500 students with teachers utilizing the resources found below.

The content of this exhibit is now online as a continuing resource for teachers. A Teacher Resource Guide is also available.

Overview

The Spanish-American War of 1898 -- and the Philippine War that immediately followed it -- were turning points in the United States’ role in the world and had a great impact on the Presidio of San Francisco. The war in the Philippines also triggered strong dissent within the United States as the nation changed from a republic based on the consent of the governed to the possessor of a colonial empire. This exhibit of photographs, San Francisco monuments, diaries, letters, political cartoons, recordings, maps, and flags looks at the Spanish-American and Philippine Wars from several points of view, including Filipino points of view.

Grades and California Standards

This exhibit is most appropriate for 8^th - 12^th graders and addresses the following standards:

8.12 Students analyze the transformation of the American economy and the changing social and political conditions in the U.S. in response to the Industrial Revolution.

10.4 Students analyze patterns of global change in the era of New Imperialism in at least two regions: Africa, Southeast Asia, China, India, Latin America, and the Philippines.

11.4 Students trace the rise of the U.S. to its role as a world power in the 20^th century.

11.42 Describe the Spanish-American War and U.S. expansion in the South Pacific.

War & Dissent Lesson Plans & Materials

The Presidio Trust has prepared a Teacher Resource Guide that includes background materials, handouts, a timeline, images, and an exhibition handbook. The materials challenge kids to examine questions from different points of view. Imperialism, racism, and the use of language and rhetoric in war are explored.

Download the Teacher Resource Guide

School Contact: Lisa Hillstrom, Presidio Trust, lhillstrom@presidiotrust.gov or (415) 561-2703.