RYSA RAE D.

AMELO September 17, 2021

BSED Major in English Instructor: Sir Renato Valdez

History 10
Activity 6: 19th Century: Jose Rizal

REVIEW QUESTIONS

I. Answer the following essay questions briefly.

Discuss how the significance of the following revolution to the world and to the Philippines in
the 19th century:

A. Industrial Revolution
- Because of the economic opportunities afforded by the industrial revolution, new
towns and ports were established. As the Philippine economy expanded, a new breed
of wealthy and important Filipino middle class emerged.
B. French Revolution
- It began a political revolution that resulted in a series of regime changes as a result of
the French Revolution's democratic aspirations, and it then divided Spain's power.
C. American Revolution
- American born liberal ideals reached the country and it inspired the idea that
colonized people can gain their independence from their colonizers.

II. Discuss how the following problems and institutions contributed to the growth of Filipino
nationalism and weakening of the Spanish rule:

A. Opening of the Suez Canal

- The canal made the distance of travel between Europe and Philippines shorter, and so,
it permitted the importation of books, magazines, and newspapers with liberal views
from Europe and America, which eventually influenced the minds of Jose Rizal and
other Filipino reformists. The reduced path has also inspired Rizal's ilustrados to
pursue further education overseas and absorb liberal and scientific ideals in European
colleges. Their social engagement with liberals in foreign places has influenced their
political and nationalist ideas.
B. Discontent with Spanish Institutions
- During the Spanish period, these colonial practices, the encomienda, the polo or
forced labor, and the tributo or tribute, became important sources of discontent among
many indios. Because of the harsh nature of these systems, several revolts and
revolutions erupted throughout the country, contributing to the weakening of Spanish
power in the nineteenth century.
C. Abuses and Immoralities of the Friars
- Abusive and immoral friars contributed to people's dissatisfaction with Spanish rule.
As evidenced by their “Anti-Friars Manifesto of 1888,” the Filipino reformists led by
Dr. Rizal despised the abusive friars and wanted them evacuated from the country.
 The reformist Marcelo H. Del Pilar also mocked the friars by parodying the Ten
Commandments.
D. Racial Discrimination
- The Filipinos grew tired of being downed by white colonizers as their inferiors just
because of their skin, height, nose, or physical traits. The brown Filipinos were
considered inferior by the Spanish authorities, who mocked them by calling them
"Indios" or "Indians." There was racial bias towards native Filipinos in government
offices, the armed services, universities and colleges, courts of law, and high society.
The decline of Spanish control in the nineteenth century, as well as the popularity of
Rizal and his reform agenda, were the result of a global and local interplay of
numerous economic, social, political, and cultural elements. The Spanish
administration in the Philippines had been weakened by the political turmoil in Spain
caused by the fast change of leadership and the fight between conservatives and
liberals. Although the Catholic Church's influence in the 19th century was not
lessened, the liberal and progressive views of Rizal and the reformists had already
stirred the locals' nationalist consciousness, which soon became the trigger for
political change in the late 19th century.
E. System of Education
- Discrimination was widely happening in the early days. This is because the schools
were previously only for Spaniards. Filipinos were only allowed to attend school in
the late nineteenth century. Some schools likewise only housed the sons of rich
Filipino families. Friars rarely discriminated against Filipinos because, even if they
were able to enter school and study, the friars believed that Filipinos would not be
able to match their talents and would only learn quickly if strong disciplinary actions
or the use of physical punishment were strictly implemented. Even if the friars used
discrimination in the past, they also had a positive impact on us, Filipinos. The friars
were successful in converting Filipinos to the Catholic faith. There is one big flaw in
the religious parishioners' educational system, and it is that it prevents Filipinos from
learning other bodies of information. The educated Filipinos were known as
ilustrados, and they formed initiatives aimed at bringing about change in the
Philippine administration. They aspired to be on the same level as the arrogant
Spaniards. One of the significant benefits of schooling is the growing number of
ilustrados in the Philippines.