Final answer:
The U.S. acquired the Philippines from Spain in 1898. Despite the idealistic portrayal of the purchase as liberation, Filipinos, under the leadership of Emilio Aguinaldo, sought their own independence rather than American rule. Independence for the Philippines was finally recognized in 1946.
Step-by-step explanation:
The United States purchased the Philippines from Spain following the Spanish-American War of 1898. Although portrayed by some like President William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt as a rescue and liberation of the Philippines from Spanish oppression, the reality was that the Filipino people had their own agenda for independence, led by Emilio Aguinaldo. Despite the strategic value offered by these islands in terms of military power and commerce, the annexation was met with resistance from Filipinos and stirred debate within the United States on the country's imperialistic trajectory.
President McKinley's proclamation of 'benevolent assimilation' did not resonate well with Filipinos, who had been fighting for independence since 1892 and had expected the US to recognize their struggle. The Filipino resistance against the US annexation culminated in the Philippine-American War. The situation was compounded by American soldiers' attitudes and actions, which were at times shockingly brutal, as well as the lingering question of whether democracy would be extended to these territories.
It wasn't until after World War II that President Harry Truman recognized the independence of the Philippines on July 4, 1946, marking the end of American colonial rule over the islands.