Philippine independence: motives, problems, and prospects

Published shortly after the inauguration of the Commonwealth of the Philippines, this 1936 monograph by political scientist Grayson L. Kirk serves as a foundational case study in the geopolitical, economic, and domestic pressures that drove mid-twentieth-century American decolonization. The text systematically traces the trajectory of the American imperial experiment from the annexationist zeal of 1908 to the eventual passage of the Tydings-McDuffie Act of 1934. Crucially, Kirk underscores the structural shifts in American political economy that reshaped the independence debate. While early resistance to retention was anchored in constitutional and democratic principles, the later push for absolute independence was spearheaded by powerful domestic agricultural syndicates and labor unions—most notably beet sugar, dairy, and cordage interests—seeking to eliminate duty-free competition from Philippine imports. This work remains highly relevant to institutional collections focusing on colonial governance, global trade systems, and the complex historical interplay between national policy and localized protectionist lobbying.

The book is considered valuable. It is advised that researchers use digital copy rather than physical books for preservation purposes. [281] pages : illustrations Date Created: 1936 (Based on publication reference) Fil. 991.4 K63 APA Citation: Kirk, G. L. (1936). Philippine independence: motives, problems, and prospects. Farrar & Rinehart.