What was the so called benevolent assimilation proclamation?

The Benevolent Assimilation Proclamation was issued by U.S. President William McKinley on December 21, 1898, following the Spanish-American War. It aimed to assert American control over the Philippines, emphasizing a paternalistic approach to governance by promising to improve the lives of Filipinos through education, infrastructure development, and public health. The proclamation framed U.S. intervention as a benevolent act, despite widespread resistance and the eventual Philippine-American War that ensued.