American Colonialism in the Philippines PDF

Colonialism and Imperialism in Southeast Asia Western Imperialism in Insular Southeast Asia Notes no. 7.2 – American Colonialism in the Philippines ❖ Methods and Colonial Policies of the United States of America in the Philippines The Philippines fell in the hands of Americans as a result of Tre...

Colonialism and Imperialism in Southeast Asia Western Imperialism in Insular Southeast Asia Notes no. 7.2 – American Colonialism in the Philippines ❖ Methods and Colonial Policies of the United States of America in the Philippines The Philippines fell in the hands of Americans as a result of Treaty of Paris on December 10, 1898. o The Treaty of Paris ended the Spanish-American Mock Battle in Manila. o The Spanish colonial government sold the archipelago to the US government for $20 million. o President William McKinley of the United States led the colonial administration in the Philippines. - His intentions were to educate the Filipinos, and uplift, civilize, and Christianize them William Howard Taft accepted the appointment by President McKinley to serve as the chairman of Philippine Commission on July 4, 1901. o He was the first civil governor of the Philippines and displayed considerable talent in as an executive and administrator. o The Philippine Commission served as the legislative body of the government until 1907. o It was the beginning of the formation of bureaucratic model of government of the United States in the Philippines. Bureaucratic government refers to a body of government officials who are not elected but form an administrative policy making group. o It has a slow pace of administration due to broad and numerous laws, regulations, and policies that are needed to be considered. Among the Western empires, the US started the Pacification campaign. o It was a response of the Americans for the widespread Filipino revolts to claim independence. o They burned and destroyed all the properties of those who would rebel against the colonial state government of the US. Sedition Act (1901) – The expression of support towards independence, sovereignty, and self-determination of the Philippines was banned. Brigandage Act (1902) – The Filipinos were prohibited to form an organization or national movement. Reconcentration Act (1903) – Filipinos from rural areas were relocated to a farther camp to prevent any support for the bandits (guerillas). When Philippine Assembly was established, it served as the lower house while the Philippine Commission functioned as the upper house. o Together, they formed the Philippine Legislature. o Manuel L. Quezon ran for the Philippine Assembly and won as the majority floor leader in 1907. o As the assembly was inaugurated at Manila Grand Opera House on October 16, 1907, Sergio Osmeña was elected as the speaker of the house. It was the day when Filipinos started to make laws for themselves under the American flag. Under the Jones Law of 1916, the Philippine Commission was abolished. o The Philippine Legislature, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives, was established, inaugurated on October 16, 1916. o It gave Philippine Legislature general legislative powers, with limitations affecting that all laws affecting immigration, currency, coinage or tariff and those pertaining to lands of public domain, timber, mining are subject to the approval of the President of the United States of America.  o It also gave the Filipinos greater participation in government through the power of confirmation over the appointments of officers in the Executive and Judicial branches of the government. ❖ Response of the Filipinos to American Colonialism General Emilio Aguinaldo declared the independence of the Philippine on June 12, 1898. o This independence was interfered as the US claimed control of the Philippines. o The revolutionary Filipinos did not recognize the US colonial government. On January 23, 1899, Aguinaldo was inaugurated as the president of the First Republic of the Philippines. o This revolutionary government continued to fight for independence against the Americans in three years. The first phase of Philippine-American War broke out led by Emilio Aguinaldo, February 4, 1899. o General Arthur MacArthur Jr. ordered to fight against Filipino armies. o The first phase of the conflict was dominated by Aguinaldo’s failed attempts to fight a conventional war against a better equipped and trained US army, February-November 1899. o The Malolos Congress fell as Aguinaldo escaped MacArthur’s siege of Malolos. o Aguinaldo retreated in Bayambang, Pangasinan, then marched northwards as they continued the fight for independence, November 1899. The second phase of the conflict was marked by the Filipino’s shift to guerilla-style warfare. o Their aim was erosion of the American’s will to sustain the costs of continuing the war. They were expecting the Americans to consider their demands. o Due to advanced weaponry of the US army and with the help of the Macabebe scouts, most of the Filipino resistance dissipated. The Macabebe scouts were feared mercenaries which gave them an unpleasant reputation. o President Aguinaldo was captured on March 23, 1901, but the revolution weakly continued. o President Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed the end of the conflict on July 4, 1902. Prepared by: Mr. James Imman Ilao