Philippines History: American Colonia Era (1898-1946)


Figure 1.--

Spain ceded the Philippines to the United States as a result of the Spanish American War (1898). Spain also ceded Cuba, Guam and Puerto Rico. Some Filipinos resisted the Americans in a vicious guerilla war. Repeated insurrections and rebellions followed American possession of the Philippines (1898-1903). A young Douglas MacArthur was involved in the fighting. After a short period of American colonial rule, the United States in the 1930s began to prepare the Philippines for independence. The Philippines played an important role in World War II. Independence was postponed by the the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and subsequent invasion of the Philippines (December 1941). Capture of the Philippine Islands was esential to Japan's effort to control the resources of southeast Asia and Oceania--particularly the oil of the Dutch East Indies. The Japanese carrier assault on Pearl Harbor which incapaciated the American Pacific fleet made possible simultaneous attacks on Malaya, Thailand, Guam and Wake Islands Hong Kong, Singapore, and the Philippines. After nearly 3 years of Japanese occupation, the United States began the liberation of the Philippines with the invasion at Leyte Gulf (October 1944).

Spanish American War (1898-99)

The Spanish-American War announced America's arrival on the world stage. While one of the lesser known American wars, the War had huge implications for America's world role in the 20th century. The path to war led through Cuba. Cuba was the last important Spanisg colony in the Americas. Attempts by the Cubans to ver throw Spanish rule failed. A new revolution broke out (1895) and was brutally supressed by Spanish authorities. American economic interests were damaged in the fighting. Some American began to see strategic interests in Cuba, especially as interest was building for a canal in Central America. The situation in Cuba was brough to the attention of the American public through "yellow journalism" reporting lurid details of actual ad imagines Spanish attrocities. W.R. Hearst's New York Journal and Joseph Pulitzer's New York World competed with each other for the most luris stories to increase circulation. War fever grew when a letter written by a Spanish diplomat disparaging President McKinley was published. The sinking of the battleship Maine in Havana Harbor made war inevitable. The United States demanded Spain withdraw from Cuba. Spain declared war (April 24, 1898). The American Pacific Fleet commanded by George Dewey was ordered to engage the Spanish Fleet at Manila Bay. Dewey destoyed the Spanish Fleet (May 1). The American Atlantic Fleet sought out the Spanish Atlantic Fleet, but it sought refuge in Santiago Harbor. The advancing American Army forced the Spanish Fleet out and it was destoyed (July 3). Santiago subsequently surrendered. An Armistace was reached (August 12). The Treaty of Paris ending the War was signed (December 10). Spain granted Cuba independence. The United States attempted to control political developments in Cuba, even after withdrawing by insisting that the Platt Amendment be inserted in the Cuban Constitution. Spain ceeded Puerto Rico and Guam to the United States and the Philippines for a $20 million payment. This ended the long history of the Spanish Empire in the America. It also began an involvement of the United States in Latin American affairs. America had earlier acquired the Hawaiian Islands. The acquisition of the Spanish territories (the Philippines and Guam) also further involved America in the Far East.

Philippine Insurrection (1899-1913)

The Philippines like Cuba were fighting to overthrow Spanish rule in the 1ate-19th century. The Philippines war for independence was not as widespread as the movement in Cuba, but it existed. The Filipino rebels were lead by José Rizal, but he was captured and executed by the Spanish. Emilio Aguinaldo who was in exile assumed control of the rebel movement. Commodore George Dewey after the triumph at Manila Bay (1898), arranged for Aguinaldo's return to the Islands. Most Filipinos rejoiced at the defeat of the Spanish and end to Spanish colonial rule (August 1898). Most Filipinos assumed that the United States would quickly grant independence which it did in Cuba. The United States was primarily focused on Cuba and had not given extensive thought on what to do with the Philippines. Admiral Dewey chastened by German moves in the lead up to the war with Spain, advised caution in the Philippines. He concluded that as a result of Spanish colonia rule, there was a relatively small republican element on which to found an independent democratic state. He was especially concerned that the islands would fall into foreign hands--especially Germany which was expanding its navy and actively seeking African and Pacific colonies. Some Filipinos resisted the Americans in a vicious guerilla war. Repeated insurrections and rebellions followed American possession of the Philippines (1898-1903). A young Douglas MacArthur was involved in the fighting.

American Colonial Rule


Move Toward Independence

After a short period of American colonial rule, the United States in the 1930s began to prepare the Philippines for independence.

World War II (1939-45)

The Philippines played an important role in World War II. Independence was postponed by the the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and subsequent invasion of the Philippines (December 1941). Capture of the Philippine Islands was esential to Japan's effort to control the resources of southeast Asia and Oceania--particularly the oil of the Dutch East Indies. The Japanese carrier assault on Pearl Harbor which incapaciated the American Pacific fleet made possible simultaneous Japanese attacks on Malaya, Thailand, Guam and Wake Islands Hong Kong, Singapore, and the Philippines. After nearly 3 years of Japanese occupation, the United Sttes began the liberation of the Philippines with the invasion at Leyte Gulf (October 1944). The Japanese Navy's attempt to stop the American assault resulted in the greatest naval battle in history.

Independence (1946)

The Philippines was to be a staging area for Operation Olympus, the planned invasion of the Japanese Home Islands. The Japanese had retreated to the mountains of northcentral Luzon and were isolated there. Finally after the atomic boms were dropped, the Japanese surrenderd (August 1945). They had lost nearly 0.5 million men trying to hold the Philippines in the Japanese Empire. With the end of the War, The United States could then begin to transfer soverignity to an independemt Filipino Republic which had been scheduled earlier. When the Japanese invaded, the Philippines had a democratically elected Government preparing to accept the responsibilities of independence. The president was Manuel L. Quezon. Independence had to be postponed because of the Japanese invasion (December 1941). After the War ended, the United States granted substantial sums to the new Filipino Government. The United States kept its committment made before the War. The reconstituted Philippine congress met for the first time since its 1941 election (June 9, 1945). Any new Government faces problems. The task faced by the new Government was unprecented, because of the explotive nature of the Japanese occuipation and the savege treatment of the Filipino people. The country was devastated by the War. Manilaooked like Hiroshima. The country's economy was in ruins. There was also political division and guerrilla warfare. Not all the anti-Japanese forces were committed to restoring democracy. There was also a Communist guierilla movement, President Quezon had died durig the War (1944). Vice President Sergio Osmeña replaced him. Osmeña was a founder of Nacionalista Party. In the first election after the War, Osmeña’s leadership was immediately challenged (January 946). What emerged as the Liberal Party) broke away from the Nationalist Party and nominated Manuel Roxas who proceeded to win the election (April 1946). The Philippines became an independent country (July 4, 1946).







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Created: 5:19 PM 9/15/2008
Last updated: 4:08 AM 10/12/2012