What if the Philippines became a US State? | Alternate History

In today's alternate history scenario we ask what if, just prior to World War II, the Philippines became a state in the United States of America? Could such a drastic change remain peaceful? Would this help or hurt the Philippines? How would the Second World War be affected?

Featuring Jakub Pedersen as Mr. Z

00:00 Intro
02:48 Why the Philippines didn't become a state
05:53 Scenario
11:24 World War II
18:23 Operation: Downfall

#alternatehistory #history #philippines #usa #ww2

[hallikwin]

If the Philippines was a state before WW2, we wouldn't have an event like "Pearl Harbor", we'd more likely have a "Manila Harbor"

[seamusfinnegan]

I feel the Philippines would be a bit awkward as a singular state and would need to be broken up into at least 2 or 3 states.

[joshuawells]

If the Philippines were a US state, it would be the kingmaker in presidential elections, as over a third of the House of Representatives would just be the Philippines.

Could Filipino Statehood speed up Puerto Rican Statehood, Guam Statehood, Samoan Statehood, etc...?

[boneman]

The US attempting to integrate its “colonial” possessions or release them immediately makes more sense than just kinda staring at them. This alternate “manifest destiny” of everywhere the star spangled banner touches must be brought liberty seems more in line with our idealism instead of just “world police.”

If American started integration campaigns as soon as we got the Philippines, you’re looking at 50 years of relation building ended by a world war proving we’d fight for them just the same as any mainlander.

The long term benefits I think would deeply outweigh the costs and profit both of our peoples immensely.

[zuccitosh]

This is an excellent video! The research is thorough, and as a Filipino, I really appreciate how accurate the pronunciations were. Great job, and I look forward to seeing more of your content!

[mrjohnclark]

If the philippines was a US state, the demographic of almost 100 milliion people would be completely different, because of property rights that would somewhat mirror US LAWS.
A large amount of filipinos would be moving to the mainland and a lot of US mainlanders would come to the philippines and buy property.
Hawaii has a population of 1.4 million in 2024
Puerto Rico has a population of 2.4 million in 2024
In in 1941 the philippines had a population of 17 million.
people would go to places to thrive if they could go to the Mainland US for work they would.
Had population dillution happened the philippines would be lucky if it had a population of 40 million in 2024. because the population only shot up in the 1950s into the 1960s and 1970s.

[MonsieurDean]

Wait, it's all the United States?

[NCR-National-Reclamation-Gov]

What if Spanish Monarchists managed to survive in Peru( not the entire Spanish Empire) and had a Dominion type government and kept the monarchy even after Spain became a Republic

[tatownianking]

My father joined a group called Philippine Statehood here in iloilo city in Panay island during the 1950's-1960's, He kept their yellow identification cards and a signature list for thousands of members!!!

[idrathernot_]

The Philippines couldn't possibly be any more expensive natural disaster wise than Florida. Access to the Filipino economy and agricultural sectors also means a greater emphasis on developing the Philippines for export crops that otherwise are coming from other countries

[Polotongquitz]

Japan will more likely to invade Siberia had the Philippines became a military fortress due to its annexation.

[JTL]

Video suggestions.
What if America purchased European Colonies post world wars For Cheap.

French Madagascar after WW1.
English speaking British Carribean after ww1.

British Belize and Guyana.
French Guyana.
Danish Greenland post WW2.

[danielsantiagourtado]

You always make My day! Suggestion: What if Franz Ferdinand lived?

[PrinceChaloner]

In 1946 Filipinos didn't have a chance to vote for Statehood. The Politicians voted for Independence without having the people vote for it. My grandfather lived that era in Mindanao wanted Statehood..

[cf]

A possible Part 2 to this video might be how much the Philippines becoming a US state would have influenced the US today. One thing I can think of is instead of 12 days of Christmas you might have 100 days like they do in the Philippines. As a result all US holidays that fall in the "Ber" months (which is the Philippine Christmas period from SeptemBER to DecemBER), might have a Christmas theme attached to it, like imagine Thanksgiving merged with Christmas, Halloween merged with Christmas etc. LOL. Oh, and Garlic Fried rice and Filipino Breakfast might be more of a thing in the US.

[ashrunzeda]

Imagine how the culture and image of the PH would vastly shift if it got integrated as a state.

Mainlanders would see the place as unique. It's part of the U.S. but so vastly different that it'd become like this mythical archipelago where it is the place to go if you want to be someone else or experience something else.

It's gonna America's Hong Kong/Macao

[GMGE-zkwg]

Philippines people will be holding US passport, US citizen and US territory by then like Puerto Rico

[romeocivilino]

It would be great because the Greater Philippine Territory beyond the Mainland Archipelago would be maintained, like North Borneo(perhaps Sulawesi, Ambon & Moluccas Islands), The Pacific Islands of Palau, Marianas and Caroline Islands, and even the Disputed Spratly Islands in the West Philippine Sea.

[Boiling_Seas]

One of the reasons the Pearl Harbor attack was so effective was that the American Pacific Fleet was in one place, rather than spread out. If it was needed to guard the Philippines as well, the difficulty of attacking the fleet as a whole skyrockets. As such, I would think Japan would go a rather different plan. Either following the northern plan and forcing the Soviets into a two-front war, or attacking the colonial holdings but bypassing American territory. Without America joining the war until some other casus belli crops up, Japan would have an easier time of striking at French Indochina and British Malaya. Australia would face more of a threat, but an actual invasion would be unlikely. By the time they reached New Guinea, the Japanese forces were stretched quite thin. Still, they would secure supplies of oil and rubber from the newly conquered territory.

[nunyabiznes]

Now that I've thought about it, the Philippines having significant Muslim areas would have made America hesitant about getting involved in the Middle East. For example invading Afghanistan and Iraq would have resulted in secession movements.