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
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