Caraga state university
Ampayon, Butuan City 8600, Philippines
URL: www.carsu.edu.ph
FILIPINO-AMERICAN
RELATIONS 1898-1969
AMERICAN DESIGNS ON THE PHILIPPINES
Theodore Roosevelt, Sr, one of the influential Americans wished that war
between Spain and the U.S. should break out in order to expand the navy in
Asia
The coming of the Americans was not a mere accident of the Spanish-
American War but a planned action.
Led by Commodore George Dewey, Manila was attacked on May 1,1898. The
Spaniards, in the face of absolute defeat, hoisted the white flag in Cavite in
token of surrender.
While Aguinaldo was in Singapore, he met Spencer Pratt, American consul in
Singapore. Pratt invited Aguinaldo to return in the Philippines
American interests to the Philippines: economic, religious, naval and military
THE SPANISH-AMERICAN SECRET AGREEMENT
Governor-General Fermin Jaudenes believed that the Spanish position was
hopeless in the face of a superior enemy and in the face of Filipino
revolutionaries.
To satisfy the Spanish code of honor, Jaudenes insisted that the surrender of
Spain should be done in a ‘mock battle’.
Jaudenes, insisted that the Filipino revolutionaries should be excluded from
participating in the surrender of Spain in Manila
The Americans accepted the terms even if it meant treachery to their ally,
Aguinaldo
IN THE MALOLOS REPUBLIC, 1898
Aguinaldo returned to the Philippines from Hong Kong with a plan to form a
Filipino government. He established the Dictatorial Government in May 1898
but a month later changed into Revolutionary Government.
The Congress was convoked at Malolos in September and a constitution
prepared to guide the government in its progress toward republicanism.
Diplomatic agents were sent abroad to work for the recognition of the
Philippine independence.
The United States, however, had decided to take over control of the
Philippines and in December 1898 the Treaty of Paris between Spain and the
United States was concluded.
THE TREATY OF PARIS
It provided that Spain would cede the Philippines to the United states in return
to which Spain would receive $20,000,000 from the United States as payment
for improvements made in the colony. Further, the United States agreed to
give the Spaniards the right to ship commodities to the Philippines for a
period of ten years on the same terms as those of the United States.
PRES. McKINLEY’S BENEVOLENT ASSIMILIATION
PROCLAMATION
It expressly indicated the intention of the United States to stay in the
Philippines by exercising the right of sovereignty over the Filipinos. In other
words, the United States would assume control and disposition of the
government of the Philippines.
President McKinley instructed miliary commanders in the Philippines to
extend American sovereignty over the entire country by force.
FILIPINO REACTION ON PRES. McKINLEY’S
BENEVOLENT ASSIMILIATION PROCLAMATION
Antonio Luna, pointed out that it was “merely a subterfuge to quiet the people
temporarily until measures could be inaugurated and applied to put in practice
all the offensive features of government which Spain had employed in the
Philippines.
Aguinaldo said, my government cannot remain indifferent in view of such a
violent and aggressive seizure of a portion of its territory by an nation which
arrogated to itself the title of champion of oppressed nations.
THE FILIPINO-AMERICAN HOSTILITIES
Filipino-American relations progressively deteriorated:
American insistence on the evacuation of Aguinaldo’s army of the strategic
points along the Manila Bay area
The refusal of the American military authorities to allow the Filipino soldiers
to enter the city after its surrender
American limitation of the areas to be occupied by the Filipino troops after the
mock battle of Manila
On February 4, 1899, an American sentry shot a Filipino soldier resulting in
the outbreak of the Filipino-American hostilities
THE FILIPINO-AMERICAN HOSTILITIES
Unresolved February 4 incident, Aguinaldo prepared local chiefs of the
possible start of the Filipino-American hostilities
American military authorities ordered an all-out against Filipinos army
American military won majority of the battles led by Gen. MacArthur while
Filipino troops led by Gen. Antonio Luna and Gen. Gregorio del Pilar
THE AMERICAN CONQUESTS
Ilo-ilo and Cebu surrendered to the Americans
The Negrense sympathize with the Americans
Bates Treaty was introduced and signed in Jolo, Sulu of August 20, 1899
Bates Treaty. The sovereignty of the U.S over the whole archipelago of Jolo
and its dependencies is declared and acknowledged, that the rights and
dignities of His Highness the Sultan and his datos shall be fully respected…
Aguinaldo fled to the mountains
The Battle of Pasong Tirad, Gen. Gregorio del Pilar was killed
Aguinaldo was captured on Mar 23, 1901 On April 1, 1899, Aguinaldo took
his oath of allegiance to the U.S. and appealed to all Filipinos to accept the
sovereignty of the U.S
THE CONTINUING RESISTANCE (1901-1913)
After the capture of Ge. Aguinaldo at Palanan, Isabela in 1901, the Filipino-
American war ended as far as the United States and Filipino elites were
concerned. But to the Filipino masses, who looked upon their war against the
Americans as a continuing struggle for independence, the resistance lasted
longer.
The resistance can be seen in three sectoral perspectives: Christian, Muslim
and Tribal
COMPROMISE WITH COLONIALISM
American colonial authorities repeatedly offered opportunities for Filipino
cooperation and participation in the colonial government.
Schurman Commission ( by Pres. McKinley and Cornell University Pres.
Jacob Schurman), non-military approach of American colonialism
Filipinization (1913) by Francis Burton
Jones Law was passed, legislative power was given to the Filipinos
COLONIAL POLITICS and THE CAMPAIGN FOR
INDEPENDENCE
Cabinet Crisis, resignation of all Filipino members of the Congress of Gov.
Wood
Schurman Commission ( by Pres. McKinley and Cornell University Pres.
Jacob Schurman), non-military approach of American colonialism
The OsRox Mission 1931-33, to secure what in their judgment would be the
best out of any situation that might arise in (American) Congress concerning
the Philippine issue.
The hare-Hawes-Cutting Act, and act provided for the establishment of a 10-
year Commonwealth to serve as a transition government before the
proclamation of independence on July 4, 1946
Tydings-McDuffie Act, eliminated military reservations
THE COMMONWEALTH
The 1935 Constitution was born, followed by the American model
National Security and National defense
Social Justice program
Education
National language
Trade relations with the U.S
Alien control of the economy
RESULTS OF THE AMERICAN OCCUPATION
Progress in education
Public health and welfare
Trade, commerce and industry
Transportation and communication
Individual freedom
Political consciousness
Language and literature
COMMONWEALTH WAS INTERRUPTED BY THE
JAPANESE OCCUPATION
The 10-year preparatory period was rudely interrupted when the Japanese looking
for territories to accommodate not only their excess population but their
manufactured goods, started the war in the Pacific.
Japanese naval bomber attacked the Pearl Harbor in Hawaii in December 1941.
The U.S. declared war against Japan and the war in the Pacific was formally on.
The Philippines was occupied by the Japanese.
Civil liberties were suppressed.
The economy was geared to the demands of the Japanese war efforts
Education was revamped to re-orient the Filipino thinking along Japanese lines
Political life was limited to the Japanese-sponsored Republic
THE LIBERATION
The 3 years of Japanese occupation were also years of resistance movement.
A number of Filipino and American officers and soldiers during captivation
succeeded in escaping to the mountains and there directed the underground
movement.
Reports of Japanese movements, losses, strengths and disposition of troops were
sent to MacArthur’s headquarters in Australia.
American forces hit the beach of Leyte in October 1944
On August 15, Japan surrendered
PROBLEMS OF FILIPINO-AMERICAN RELATIONS
In spite of the highly touted “identity” of Filipino-American interests and the close
friendship that has characterized their experiment in democratic partnership,
several irritants have cropped up to make the “honeymoon” seem sour.
The so-called Filipino-American interests is more sentimental and rhetorical than
real and substantial.
There are actuations of the American Government and personnel which do not
conform to the Filipino idea of friendship.
The Filipinos have cone to realize that American intentions in the Philippines have
not been exactly altruistic and benevolent.
Some actuations of the American military in the Philippines have contributed to
the tension in Filipino-American relations.
RE-ASSESSMENT OF RP-US RELATIONS
Filipinos come to conclusion that the s-called special relations with the United
States was a myth.
The nationalists began to criticize American policy toward the Philippines and
demanded in unmistakable terms the abolition of the parity right of the Americans
in the Philippines…
References
1. Agoncillo, T. (1990). History of the Filipino People, pp 187-410, 527-532,
Quezon City: Garotech Publishing
