When the United States obtained the Philippine Islands from Spain as a result of the Spanish-American War in 1899, it wasn't quite sure what to do about the new possession. But Ida McKinley knew. She told the President that we must uplift, civilize, and Christianize the natives. We must send missionaries. One Presidential aide boldly observed that "Mrs. McKinley's incessant talk of conversion of the islanders influenced the President's decision to retain the Philppines".