American Period (1898-1946)

Arrival of the Americans

Industrialization led America to wage war against Spain

Americas victory brought out the issue: colonize the Philippines or not?

US decision to colonize the Philippines was legitimized by:

the decision of Pres. McKinley to colonize the Philippines after seeking the Lord through prayer.

the ratification by the US Senate of the Treaty of Paris

The Coming of the Americans to the Philippines

The Americans arrived in the Philippines on May 1, 1898 11 days after the declaration of the SpanishAmerican War. They attacked and defeated the Spanish fleet at Manila Bay.

On August 18, 1898, two months after the declaration of Philippine Independence in Kawit, Cavite, Manila
(the seat of Spanish rule) surrendered not to the Filipinos but to the Americans.

When Spain surrendered to America, Pres. William McKinley did not know what to do with the
Philippines. The reason for this was the controversy in America regarding the issue of colonization or
American expansionism. One group favored expansionism for the purpose of having a market for American
products and sources for needed raw materials. The other group opposed this for they believed the US had
no right to colonize another country and it was not provided for in their constitution.

Thus Pres. McKinley sought the Lord on what to do with the Philippines. He walked the floor of the White
House night after night. Then, one night, it came to him this way:

I dont know how it was, but it came; 1) that we could not give them back to Spain that would be
cowardly and dishonorable; 2) that we could not turn them over to France or Germany our commercial
rivals in the Orient that would be bad business and discreditable; 3) that we could not leave them to
themselves they were unfit for self-government and they would soon have anarchy and misrule over
there worse than Spains was; 4) that there was nothing left for us to do but to take them all, and to educate
the Filipinos, and uplift and civilize and Christianize them, and by Gods grace do the very best we could
by them, as our fellowmen for whom Christ also died. And then I went to bed, and went to sleep and slept
soundly

On December 10,1898 the Treaty of Paris was formally signed, ending the Spanish-American War.
Included in the treaty was the ceding of the Philippines to the U.S. by Spain at the price of 20 million US
dollars. At the U.S. Senate, the treaty was ratified but with only one vote making the difference.

The Filipino-American War

Pres. McKinley, issuing his benevolent assimilation policy towards Philippines, declared it under Military
Control

Filipinos rose up and fought hard in spite of their scanty arms

Before the war ended 200,000 Filipino lives taken.

4,000 American soldiers, 20,000 Filipino soldiers, 200,000 Filipino civilians dead

The Anti-Sedition Law prohibiting display of Philippine flag, among others, was passed .
The Coming of the Americans to the Philippines

In his 1899 message to the U.S. Congress, Pres. McKinley issued his Benevolent Assimilation policy
towards the Philippines. He ordered the Philippines to be placed under military control. Realizing the real
motive of the Americans, the Filipinos fought to uphold their freedom, leading to the Filipino-American
War (1899-1902).

The Americans had all the advantages but the Filipinos fought hard. With the strong resistance given by the
Filipinos, the Americans used many tactics to suppress the Filipinos. To obtain information, captives were
given the water cure; others were tied and dragged bodily behind galloping horses; others were tied up
by their thumbs. To cut off supplies to Filipino soldiers, whole villages were burned or turned into
reconcentration camps.

Before the war ended in 1902, a writer of Life Magazine wrote that more than 4,000 Americans, some
20,000 Filipino soldiers and guerillas, and more than 200,000 civilians had died.

To further suppress Filipino nationalism, the Philippine Commission passed the Sedition Law on November
4, 1901; the Reconcentration Act on June 1, 1903; and the Flag Law which prohibited the display of the
Philippine flag from 1907 to 1919.

Campaign for Independence

Filipinos were defeated but never gave up.

Some resisted American rule through arms, others through legal means

In May of 1934, the Tydings-McDuffie or Philippine Independence Law was passed.

This resulted in the granting of independence on July 4, 1946, after World War II.

Campaign for independence

Although the Filipinos were defeated during the Filipino-American War, the Filipinos did not give up their
quest for independence. They continued to openly voice out their sentiments against US aggression. Twelve
Independence missions were sent to the US from 1919-1934. In 1934, the US Congress passed the TydingsMcDuffie Law which was accepted by the Philippine Legislature on May 1, 1934. This was also known as
the Philippine Independence Law, as it provided for a ten-year transition period under the Philippine
Commonwealth. The plan was disrupted by the Japanese Occupation of the Philippines (1942-1945). On
July 4, 1946, the Republic of the Philippines was inaugurated.

Americas contribution to the Filipino nation

The Americans trained the Filipinos in the democratic form of political governance.

Public education became a right of all people.

The English language was extensively propagated in the country.

Public health was promoted.

Major improvements were made in transportation and communication facilities.

Biblical Christianity was introduced.

American Contributions to the Philippines

The Americans trained the Filipinos in the democratic form of political governance.

Education became a right of all people. In 1901, 600 volunteer American teachers, the Thomasites, came
to the Philippines.

The English language was extensively propagated in the country, making the Philippines today the third
largest English-speaking nation in the whole world.

Public health was promoted, leading to the wiping out of epidemics of cholera, small pox and bubonic
plague.

Major improvements were made in transportation and communication facilities. Roads, bridges and railway
systems were constructed; telephone, radio and wireless telegraph services were introduced; air
transportation was also introduced.

Biblical Christianity was introduced. In August 1898, immediately upon the arrival of American forces in
Manila, two Protestant services were conducted at Intramuros led by American chaplains. Missionaries
began to arrive mainly during 1899-1905 (Presbyterians, Methodists, Episcopalians, Alliance, etc). Other
evangelical missions also came during the 1920s and 1930s (Assemblies of God, Four-Square,
Fundamental Baptists, etc.).

Another American contribution: One nation, one national government

Establishment of one national government throughout the whole archipelago

Approval of the 1935 Philippine Constitution

Establishment of the Philippine presidency

The American tares

American military conquest & suppressive laws subverted growth of nationalism

Filipino consensual democracy was further subverted with introduction of a large middle class in the cities

Corruption in top rung of government was covered up by existence of this middle class

The public school system induced Filipinos to regard American culture as superior

Filipinos, in becoming avid consumers of American products, learned to despise their own