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PHILIPPINES
UNDER THE AMERICAN RULE AND THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE PHILIPPINES
The US replaced Spanish rule with the institutions of a modern state.
It was also the intention of the US to prepare Filipinos for
self-governance. Manuel Quezon pushed for independence through politics
rather than armed revolution. Through Quezon, the Commonwealth of the
Philippines was established. This granted the Philippines a large
amount of autonomy but at the same time, the US retained some control
over the country (as the case was with Philippine foreign affairs).
Under American Rule
September 1900 - August 1902: The Taft Commission replaces over three
centuries of Spanish rule with the laws and institutions of a modern
civil state. A code of law, a judicial system and elective municipal
and provincial governments are established. The Philippine Organic Act
of 1902 extends the protections of the United States Bill of Rights to
Filipinos and establishes a national bi-cameral legislature. The lower
house is the popularly elected Philippine Assembly and the upper house
is the Philippine Commission appointed directly by the president of the
US.
July 18, 1901: The Philippine Constabulary is established.
September 28, 1901: In Balanggiga, as a consequence of the
inappropriate behaviour of US soldiers towards Filipinos, around 200
Warays armed with bolos attack the American garrison. The Americans are
attacked during breakfast and are generally unarmed. Only 2 US soldiers
escape unharmed while 22 are wounded and 48 killed.
October 23, 1901: A unit of US marines arrive in Balanggiga after
General Jacob "howling" Smith gives orders to turn the island of Samar
into a "howling wilderness" and US soldiers are ordered to kill all
Filipino natives over the age of 10 or 11 years. Around ten thousand
Filipinos are slaughtered causing public outcry in the US. General
Smith is eventually court marshalled and forced into retirement.
November 4, 1901: The Philippine Commission enacts the Sedition Law.
This means the death penalty or a long prison sentence for anyone who
tries to establish the Philippines as independent or separate from the
US.
1902: Macario Sakay, a captured member of the Katipunan, is released as
a general amnesty. Sakay and a group of other Katipuneros form the
Republika ng Katagalugan or Tagalog Republic in the mountains of
Southern Luzon. Sakay becomes president and commander-in-chief of the
Republika ng Katagalugan; a continuation of the Katipunan and a
continuation of the struggle for independence from the US.
March 30, 1902: The unit of US marines depart from Balanggiga.
July 1, 1902: The Cooper Act is passed in the US Senate. A bicameral
legislature is established with the Philippine Assembly as the lower
chamber and the Philippine Commission as the upper chamber.
1904: Following American practice, the Philippine Organic Act imposes
the strict separation of church and state and eliminates the Roman
Catholic Church as the official state religion. The administration pays
the Vatican US$7.2 million for most of the lands held by the religious
orders. The lands are later sold back to Filipinos. Some tenants are
able to buy their land but it is mainly the established estate owners
who can afford to buy the former church lands.
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