Little Brown Brother: How the United States Purchased and Pacified the Philippine Islands at the Century's Turn

From the front flap of this 383 page book: "Although nearly forgotten today, the U.S. annexation of the Philippines came at the end of a bloody and highly controversial war that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, cost six hundred million dollars, and set America firmly on the path of imperial expansion. In [this book], Leon Wolff tells the full story, revealing how and why the U.S. went from aiding Filipino independence to forcefully annexing the islands for themselves. Combining rich historical knowledge with a compelling narrative style, Wolff offers a masterful portrait of the insurrection, including revealing sketches of key figures such as U.S. governor-general William H. Taft and Filipino leader Emilio Aquinaldo. In addition, he provides a memorable look at the fierce debate raging back home. On the side of the empire were the nation's leading Republicans, including President William McKinley, Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, and New York's famously pugnacious governor, Theodore Roosevelt, who declared that 'the clamor of the peace faction has convinced me that the country needs a war.' On the opposing side stood an equally influential group, including labor leader Samuel Gompers, industrialist Andrew Carnegie, and celebrated author Mark Twain, all of whom joined the Anti-Imperialist League. How it all came about and how the U,S. subdued his 'little brown brother' are mordantly told in this landmark work that presents an unforgettable portrait of America at the dawn of her global empire."