Philippine-American War

 The Philippine-American War 

1899-1902

This is a war between the United States and Filipino revolutionaries from 1899 to 1902; the insurrection may be seen as a continuation of the Philippine Revolution against Spanish rule. It was tragic war that many young Filipinos dead and suffered.

 On February 4, 1899, an American soldier, Private William Grayson, shot a Filipino soldier at the bridge of San Juan, Manila. The fatal shot was followed by an immediate U.S. offensive on the Filipino lines. This marked the beginning of the Philippine-American War, which lasted for three years until the establishment of the civilian colonial government of Governor-General William Howard Taft on July 4, 1902. The timing of the San Juan incident is suspect since it happened only two days before the U.S. Congress was scheduled to ratify the Treaty in Paris on February 6, 1899. Under the treaty, Spain officially ceded the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico to the United States in exchange for $20 million. Since the U.S. Congress, like the American public, was evenly split between the anti-imperialists and pro-annexationists, the treaty was expected to experience rough sailing when submitted to the Chamber for ratification. The San Juan incident and the outbreak of the Philippine American War tilted sentiment in favor of acquiring the Philippines, and thus the treaty was ratified by the U.S. Congress. 

Emilio Aguinaldo, considered the first president of the Philippines, led the Filipinos in their fight for independence.  The war began in 1899 and ended in 1902.

In July of 1900, General Arthur MacArthur Jr. replaces General Otis as military governor, and William Howard Taft becomes civil governor of the Philippines.

The battles that occurred in the 1900s, Siege of Catubig, Battle of Macahambus, Battle of Pulang Lupa, and the Battle of Mabitac, all show the underestimated power of the Filipinos.  In these battles, the Filipinos come out successful and surprise the Americans with their tactics.  In the future, this leads to the disappearance of the Philippine-American War in American history books.

In March of 1901, the Americans are successful in capturing Aguinaldo.  He surrenders and pledges his allegiance to America and commands his followers to do the same; however, the resistance from the group stays strong.

group of Filipino soldiers

Later that year in September, the Balangiga Massacre occurs.  The people of Samar, a province in the Philippines, ambush and kill over 50 Americans.  Due to this, America retaliates.  General Jacob Hurd Smith, of America, led this revolt and ordered the killing of every Filipino man over the age of 10.  Smith was eventually court-martialed and found guilty for this act.

Up to this point, the Philippines seems to be winning in the war.  And complete victory and independence doesn’t look too far.  In 1902, a couple Filipino generals and their men surrender, and President Theodore Roosevelt declares the end of the war.

But, this isn’t the end.  Up to 1913, the fighting continues between America and the Philippines, until America promises the Philippines independence.

Before the Philippine-American War, the Philippines supported America in the Spanish-American War.  The Filipinos wanted independence from their Spanish oppressors.  After the victory of America in the Spanish-American War, the Filipinos immediately claimed their independence and sovereignty.  However, that declaration went unrecognized by Spain and America.  Because Spain lost, they gave the land to America in the 1898 Treaty of Paris.

Filipino women talking to American soldiers

This war affected the Filipinos in so many ways.  With America in the Philippines, they decided to instill American values and teachings.  They started with the re-education of the Filipinos.  Filipinos taught classes under supervision of America.  Also, with American influences in the Philippines came the World’s Fair, and the eventual migration of Filipino men to the US, for work and in search of a better life.

Sources :

http://philippines1900.tumblr.com/post/259687214/the-philippine-american-war

 http://opmanong.ssc.hawaii.edu/filipino/philam.html