ClassX Video Lessons Youtube Channel Knowledgia How did America Take The Philippines? – The History of The American Philippines (1899 – 1946)
The story of the American Philippines begins with the end of the Spanish-American War in 1898. As part of the treaty that concluded the war, the United States paid Spain for control over the Philippines. This marked the start of American rule in the islands, which lasted until the Philippines gained independence after World War II.
At first, Filipinos saw the Americans as allies in their fight for freedom from Spanish rule. However, the Americans had their own plans, seeing it as a chance to “uplift and civilize” the Filipino people. In August 1898, the U.S. set up a military government in Manila, introducing American-style local governments, schools, and courts.
Meanwhile, the Philippine revolutionary government, formed during the war with Spain, was working on its own constitution. They declared the First Philippine Republic in January 1899. But just days before, the U.S. proclaimed military rule over the entire archipelago, challenging the new government. This led to open conflict on February 4, 1899, when American forces attacked San Juan.
Emilio Aguinaldo, the leader of the Philippine government, declared war on the United States on June 2, 1899. The Filipinos, lacking modern weapons, initially struggled against the American military. They soon turned to guerrilla tactics, aiming to wear down the Americans over time.
In response, the U.S. military set up camps for civilians, claiming it was for their protection. However, these camps were poorly managed, leading to widespread disease and death. The conflict continued, with General Arthur MacArthur declaring martial law in December 1900. An American Commission, led by William Howard Taft, began planning a new government structure, using local positions to sway resistance leaders.
The capture of Aguinaldo in March 1901 marked a turning point. He surrendered in April and urged Filipinos to stop fighting, though some resistance continued until 1913. The war caused significant loss of life, with over 200,000 Filipino civilians dying from disease and famine.
After the war, the Philippines was governed as a U.S. territory, known as the Insular Government. In 1907, elections were held for an assembly, which consistently pushed for independence. The Philippine Autonomy Act of 1916, or Jones Law, promised eventual independence but without a clear timeline.
World War I paused independence efforts, but after the war, a Philippine delegation lobbied for independence in Washington, D.C. President Woodrow Wilson supported their cause, but his successors were less enthusiastic. In 1934, the Philippine Independence Act set a timeline for independence, with a new constitution taking effect in 1935 and full independence planned for July 4, 1946.
The Great Depression and rising tensions with Japan complicated the path to independence. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 also targeted the Philippines, leading to its occupation. The Philippine army joined U.S. forces under General Douglas MacArthur, but Manila fell to Japan in January 1942. A government-in-exile was established in Washington, D.C.
During the occupation, harsh conditions led to a strong resistance movement. By the end of the war, about 300,000 Filipinos were involved in guerrilla activities. In October 1944, American forces returned, led by General MacArthur, beginning with the Battle of Leyte Gulf, one of the largest naval battles in history.
Manila was retaken in February 1945 after intense fighting. The war ended with Japan’s surrender on September 2, 1945. The Philippines celebrated the tenth anniversary of its Commonwealth on November 15, 1945, and prepared for independence, which was officially granted on July 4, 1946.
Engage in a role-playing debate where you represent different perspectives from the period of American rule in the Philippines. Take on roles such as a Filipino revolutionary, an American military officer, or a member of the American Commission. Prepare arguments based on historical facts and present your case to the class, focusing on the motivations and consequences of American actions in the Philippines.
Create a detailed timeline of key events from the American acquisition of the Philippines to its independence in 1946. Use visual aids such as images, maps, and brief descriptions to illustrate each event. Present your timeline to the class, highlighting how each event contributed to the eventual independence of the Philippines.
Conduct research on a specific aspect of the Philippine-American War or the subsequent American rule. Topics could include the role of Emilio Aguinaldo, the impact of guerrilla warfare, or the effects of American policies on Filipino society. Prepare a presentation to share your findings with the class, using multimedia tools to enhance your presentation.
Write a short story or diary entry from the perspective of a Filipino civilian during the American occupation. Incorporate historical details and personal emotions to convey the challenges and hopes experienced during this period. Share your story with classmates and discuss the diverse experiences of Filipinos under American rule.
Watch a documentary about the history of the American Philippines, focusing on the key events and figures discussed in the article. After viewing, participate in a class discussion to analyze the documentary’s portrayal of historical events and its accuracy. Reflect on how the documentary enhances your understanding of the period.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript, with sensitive content and explicit details removed or softened:
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One element of the treaty that ended the Spanish-American War in 1898 was a significant payment from the United States to Spain in exchange for the Philippines. This marked the beginning of the American colonial period, which lasted until the archipelago gained independence after the Second World War.
Initially, Filipinos viewed the Americans as allies in their struggle for independence from Spain, but the Americans had a different perspective. For them, it was an opportunity to “uplift and civilize” the Filipino people. In August 1898, the Americans established a military government in Manila. With this authority, they set up local governments, schools, and courts based on the American model. Meanwhile, the Philippine revolutionary government, formed during the Spanish-American War, held elections to create an assembly tasked with drafting a constitution for their new state. This constitution was adopted and set to take effect on January 21, 1899, establishing the First Philippine Republic. However, on January 4, the United States issued a proclamation asserting military rule over the entire archipelago, undermining the new government. President Emilio Aguinaldo responded by reaffirming the Philippines’ independence and the right to self-defense. Open conflict began on February 4, 1899, with an American assault on San Juan.
Aguinaldo’s government declared war against the United States on June 2, 1899. The Filipinos were not equipped for traditional warfare against a modern military; many relied on basic weapons. After several months, they adopted guerrilla tactics to inflict ongoing losses rather than attempting to defeat the Americans outright. This led to a shift in American military strategy, which included the establishment of camps to collect civilians, ostensibly for their protection. Unfortunately, these camps were poorly supplied, and disease spread rapidly, resulting in more Filipino deaths than the conflict itself. The insurgency continued, prompting a declaration of martial law by General Arthur MacArthur on December 20, 1900. Concurrently, an American Commission led by future president William Howard Taft began to design a new government. Local government positions were used to persuade some resistance leaders to abandon their anti-American efforts.
Hostilities decreased significantly after Aguinaldo was captured in March 1901. He officially surrendered on April 19 and urged his people to lay down their arms, although some local leaders continued to resist until April 1902. Isolated pockets of resistance persisted until 1913. The conflict resulted in significant loss of life and resources for the United States, with the Filipino civilian death toll estimated at over 200,000 due to disease and famine. The U.S. employed a scorched-earth policy in areas where guerrilla activity was prevalent and used harsh interrogation methods on prisoners. The Philippine fighters also resorted to severe tactics against captured Americans.
After the war, the Philippines was placed under a territorial government administered by the United States, known as the Insular Government, which aimed to guide the Philippines toward independence. Elections for an assembly were held in 1907, creating a bicameral legislature with an elected lower house and a U.S.-appointed upper house. The assembly consistently passed resolutions advocating for Philippine independence. In 1916, the Philippine Autonomy Act, also known as the Jones Law, was enacted, replacing the Philippine Commission with an elected Senate and affirming American policy for Philippine independence, though without a specific timeline.
Activities related to independence were paused during World War I. After the war, a Philippine delegation presented their case for independence in Washington, D.C. President Woodrow Wilson expressed support for their readiness for independence in his farewell address in 1921, but his successors disagreed. In January 1933, the U.S. government established a timeline for Philippine independence through the Philippine Independence Act of 1934, which outlined the process for drafting a constitution and forming a commonwealth. Under this act, the Philippines was set to gain independence on July 4, following the tenth anniversary of the Commonwealth’s establishment. The new constitution took effect on November 15, 1935, with independence scheduled for July 4, 1946.
The new government faced ambitious plans, many of which were hindered by the Great Depression and geopolitical uncertainties, particularly regarding Japan’s actions in the region. The attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, was accompanied by an assault on the Philippines, drawing the country into the war. The Philippine army was integrated into the U.S. Army Forces Far East, with General Douglas MacArthur overseeing military operations. To prevent destruction, Manila was declared an open city, and it fell to Japanese forces on January 2, 1942. The Philippine President and Vice President established a government-in-exile in Washington, D.C.
During the Japanese occupation, forced labor and other harsh measures were common, leading to a strong underground resistance movement. By the end of the war, nearly 300,000 Filipinos were involved in guerrilla activities. In October 1944, American forces returned to the Philippines under General MacArthur, who felt a personal obligation to ensure the commonwealth’s liberation. The major offensive to reclaim the islands began with the Battle of Leyte Gulf from October 23 to 26, 1944, noted as one of the largest naval battles in history.
The Americans began retaking Manila on February 3, 1945, engaging in intense street fighting that lasted until March 3. The civilian population suffered greatly during this period, with many caught in the crossfire. Fighting continued in the islands until Japan’s surrender on September 2, 1945.
Just a few months later, on November 15, 1945, the Philippine Commonwealth celebrated its tenth anniversary, and preparations for official independence commenced, which was granted with much ceremony on July 4, 1946.
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This version maintains the historical context while removing explicit details and sensitive content.
Americans – Citizens or inhabitants of the United States of America, often involved in historical events and developments. – Example sentence: During the late 19th century, Americans were increasingly involved in overseas expansion, which included the annexation of territories like the Philippines.
Philippines – An archipelago in Southeast Asia that was a Spanish colony before becoming a territory of the United States after the Spanish-American War. – Example sentence: The Philippines gained independence from the United States on July 4, 1946, after years of colonial rule and conflict.
War – A state of armed conflict between different countries or different groups within a country. – Example sentence: The Spanish-American War in 1898 marked a turning point in U.S. foreign policy, leading to American control over former Spanish colonies.
Independence – The state of being free from outside control; not subject to another’s authority. – Example sentence: The struggle for independence in the Philippines was marked by both diplomatic efforts and armed resistance against colonial powers.
Government – The governing body of a nation, state, or community, responsible for making and enforcing laws and policies. – Example sentence: The establishment of a stable government was a crucial step for the Philippines after gaining independence from the United States.
Conflict – A serious disagreement or argument, often a protracted one, which can lead to war or other forms of strife. – Example sentence: The conflict between the United States and Filipino revolutionaries erupted into the Philippine-American War following the Treaty of Paris in 1898.
Military – Relating to or characteristic of soldiers or armed forces. – Example sentence: The U.S. military played a significant role in the occupation and administration of the Philippines during the early 20th century.
Aguinaldo – Emilio Aguinaldo was a Filipino revolutionary leader who played a key role in the Philippine struggle for independence from Spanish and later American rule. – Example sentence: Emilio Aguinaldo declared Philippine independence from Spain on June 12, 1898, and later led the resistance against American forces.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs, often involving the analysis of cause and effect. – Example sentence: Understanding the history of the Philippines helps explain the complex relationship between the country and the United States.
Revolution – A forcible overthrow of a government or social order, in favor of a new system. – Example sentence: The Philippine Revolution against Spanish rule began in 1896 and set the stage for subsequent conflicts with American forces.
