1.1 - 1904 World's Fair-Exhibition of the Igorot Filipino People
Grades: 5-12Subjects: English Language Arts, U.S. HistoryNumber of Activities: 3
Overview
After the Philippine-American War ended in 1902, Americans became fascinated by the natives of the newly acquired territory, which led to the development of anthropological exhibits showcasing what “primitive” life was like in the Philippines. During this time period, anthropologists adopted an evolutionary perspective rooted in white superiority. One of the exhibits featured the Igorot people, who anthropologist Albert Jenks believed were the most uncivilized tribe in the Philippines. These exhibits/human zoos sparked the creation of negative stereotypes of both the Igorot people and the Filipino community. Students will view the video segment from Asian Americans and engage in activities and discussions to explore the power of perception and its impact on shaping the identities of Asian Americans. Students will also examine the U.S. politics and scientific theories that shaped the perception of Americans and sought to justify U.S. colonization in the Pacific and the mistreatment of the Filipino community.
 
Objectives
Students will be able to:
 
1904 World’s Fair - Exhibition of the Igorot People Essay
The word “savage” has been used throughout American history to justify the mistreatment and subjugation of different people, as well as to disguise racism as American benevolence—as applied to Native Americans, Africans, Pacific Islanders, Asians, and other groups in America. It has also been used to justify the colonization of other countries because America needs to bring about civilization to them. The term implies that “savages” are an uncivilized, uneducated, and violent people in desperate need of America to save them and help them prosper in a “civilized” world. The usage of “savage” is deeply rooted in arrogance and shapes the identity of new “non-white” immigrant groups by perpetuating and maintaining white superiority and racial hierarchies.
A prime example of this was seen at the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition (St. Louis World’s Fair). The 1904 World’s Fair was an opportunity for America to establish its dominance in the world and be seen as an imperial power. After the Philippine-American War ended in 1902, Americans became fascinated by the natives of the newly acquired territory, which led to the development of anthropological exhibits showcasing what life was like in the Philippines. During this period, anthropologists adopted an evolutionary perspective rooted in the superiority of whites and their culture. One of the exhibits featured the Igorot people, who anthropologist Albert Jenks believed were the most uncivilized tribe in the Philippines. These exhibits/human zoos sparked the creation of negative stereotypes of the Igorot people and the Filipino community. The United States government spent over $1.5 million transporting over 1,000 Filipinos to the World’s Fair. The total cost of the Fair was $19.6 million. The Igorot Village was one of the most popular attractions at the Fair. The exhibit served in making the claim that whites were superior and that the U.S. needed to make the Philippines a colony because of their uncivilized ways. By colonizing the Philippines, the U.S. would then have access to the Pacific for export, military, and other strategic purposes.
One of the Igorot people featured at the St Louis World’s Fair was twelve-year-old Antero Cabrera. Antero understood the true nature of the exhibit but willingly participated in it long after the culmination of the Fair. In pursuit of the American Dream, Antero sought to create a better life for himself and his descendants and was able to travel the world and achieve both economic and social status through his participation in these anthropological exhibits.
Today, the term “savage” has evolved to mean someone who has displayed an incredible amount of bravery or accomplished an extraordinary feat; however, the history of this term is much more complex. During imperialism, those deemed as “savages” were conquered, colonized, and forced to assimilate to the American way of life. Immigrants from these territories faced a tremendous amount of prejudice and discrimination in their new lives in America, solely due to the color of their skin.
 

Works Cited:
Allen, Greg. “Living Exhibits' at 1904 World's Fair Revisited - Igorot Natives Recall Controversial Display of Their Ancestors.” NPR, 31 May, 2004, https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1909651. Accessed 2 June 2020.
“A Guide to the United States Universal Exposition Papers, [ca. 1904].” The University of Texas at Austin. http://legacy.lib.utexas.edu/taro/utcah/02442/cah-02442.html. Accessed 2 June 2020.
“Louisiana Purchase Exposition, St. Louis, 1904.” University of Delaware, 21 Dec 2010. https://wayback.archive-it.org/10305/20180410205508/http://www.lib.udel.edu/ud/spec/exhibits/fairs/louis.htm. Accessed 2 June 2020.
Qiu, Linda. “Tribal Headhunters on Coney Island? Author Revisits Disturbing American Tale.” National Geographic, 28 Oct. 2014. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/article/141027-human-zoo-book-philippines-headhunters-coney-island. Accessed 2 June 2020.
 
Vocabulary:
 

1 Definition is adopted from the Encyclopedia Britannica
2 Definition is adopted from the Encyclopedia Britannica
3 Definition is adopted from the Cambridge Dictionary
4 Definition is adopted from the Encyclopedia Britannica
5 Definition is adopted from the Lexico.com
6 Definition is adopted from the Encyclopedia Britannica
7 Definition is adopted from the Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology
8 Definition is adopted from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary
9 Definition is adopted from the Dictionary.com
10 Definition is adopted from the Anti-Defamation League
 
Discussion Questions:
  1. What role did anthropology play in the creation of racial hierarchies in America?
  2. Is America’s hierarchy still organized by race or is there another classification system currently in place? Explain.
  3. Have you ever been treated differently due to your race or physical appearance? What might be the dangers of treating people differently based on their physical features or perceived race?
  4. Are Asians the “savages” that U.S. politicians made them out to be during the time of Pacific expansion?
  5. How did the acquisition of territories in the Pacific have an impact on America’s standing in the world?
 
Activity 1: The Role of Albert Jenks’ Anthropology and Subjugation of Different People
  1. Class Discussion
    1. Class will answer the discussion questions below after watching this lesson’s video clip:
    2. Discussion questions:
      • What role did anthropology play in the creation of racial hierarchies in America?
      • Is America’s hierarchy still organized by race or is there another classification system currently in place? Explain.
      • Have you ever been treated differently due to your race or physical appearance? What might be the dangers of treating people differently based on their physical features or perceived race at that time?
  2. Group Reading of 1904 World’s Fair - Exhibition of the Igorot People Essay
    1. Students will read this lesson’s essay and complete the following:
      • Annotate and reflect on the essay.
      • Highlight the main ideas.
      • Select one quote from the text to reflect on more deeply – connect it to your life, see it from a different perspective.
      • Write how and why the quote either strengthens or alters your original perspective.
    2. Students will get into small groups of 3-4 to engage in a discussion about what they have written.
    3. Entire class will have a discussion about the reflection questions below:
      • What did you gain from your discussion? Was your perspective strengthened or altered as a result of the discussion?
      • How can you apply what you learned from the discussion to your life and the world you live in?
 
Activity 2: Primary Source Research and Analysis
  1. Students, individually or in groups, will seek out primary resources about the Igorot people and their experiences. If students are in need of additional guidance, the link below can be shared with them:
    "Savages" in the White House and the 1904 World's Fair
    (https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/Blog/Item/Savages%20in%20the%20White%20House%20and%20the%201904%20Worlds%20Fair)
    Or distribute the Savages-1904-Worlds-Fair.
  2. After selecting which sources they would like to research more deeply, students will read, annotate, and further analyze each source by creating a chart/table that includes the following categories for the students to complete: predict, identify, describe, infer, inquire, and reflect.
 
Activity 3: Historical Essay - 1898: Birth of an Overseas Empire
  1. Historical Reading
  2. Class Discussion
    Teacher will engage in a discussion with the entire class using the following discussion questions: Are Asians the “savages” U.S. politicians made them out to be during the time of Pacific expansion?
    • How did the acquisition of territories in the Pacific have an impact on America’s standing in the world at that time?
 
Further Information
“1898: Birth of an Overseas Empire.” History, Art & Archives, U.S. House of Representatives. https://history.house.gov/Exhibitions-and-Publications/APA/Historical-Essays/Exclusion-and-Empire/1898/. Accessed 2 June 2020.
Morris, Wesley. “The Cost of Being ‘Savage’ in a Supposedly Civilized World.” New York Times Magazine, 6 Feb. 2018, https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/06/magazine/the-cost-of-being-savage-in-a-supposedly-civilized-world.html. Accessed 2 June 2020.
Parks, Shoshi. “Scientists staged a racist Olympics in 1904 to ‘prove’ white superiority.” Timeline, 1 Mar. 2018, https://timeline.com/anthropology-days-scientists-racist-olympics-prove-white-superiority-7a45289071cf. Accessed 2 June 2020.
“Progress Made Visible.” University of Delaware Library, http://www.lib.udel.edu/ud/spec/exhibits/fairs/louis.htm.