Philippine independence
Philippine independence refers to the struggles of the Filipinos for independence from colonial rule —first by Spain, and then by the United States.
The Philippine-American War, with its devastating use of military force, was a prime example of American might at the turn of the 20th Century. The Japanese then occupied the Philippines during WWII, after which the U.S. again liberated the islands.
Spanish colonialism
- Further information: History of the Philippines (1521-1898) , Philippine Revolution
Philippines under American control
The Spanish-American War ended in December 1898, ending the Spanish hold on Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippines, permanently putting an end to the last divestments of the Spanish Empire. Spain sold the Philippines to the United States at the Treaty of Paris for 20 million USD. The United States had cheaply acquired a colony the size of Arizona, although the Philippine inhabitants, like Cuba's just before, had notions of independence.
In the Philippine-American War which followed, an estimated 200,000 to 1,000,000 Filipino civilians were killed, with 16,000 Filipino killed in action. By contrast, only 4,200 American soldiers were killed.
American recognition of independence
The Philippines celebrates its Independence Day on June 12 1898 when the Philippines declared independence from Spain, although its independence was only recognized on July 4, 1946 by the United States. From 1946 to 1961, Independence Day was observed on July 4, but President Diosdado Macapagal, upon the advice of historians, reverted to the June 12 date, which up to that time had been observed as Flag Day.
Filipino historians point out that independence in 1946 came with numerous strings attached. The U.S. retained dozens of military bases, and independence was linked to legislation passed by the U.S. Congress which was designed to ensure that the Philippines would remain an economic ward of the U.S.
For example, the Bell Trade Act prohibited the Philippines from manufacturing or selling any products that might "come into substantial competition" with U.S.-made goods and required that the Philippine constitution be revised to grant U.S. citizens and corporations equal access to Philippine minerals, forests and other natural resources. One U.S. State Department official described the law as "clearly inconsistent with the basic foreign economic policy of this country" and a betrayal of "our promise to grant the Philippines genuine independence."
But the Philippines had little choice but to accept the terms for independence. The United States Congress was threatening to withhold post World War 2 rebuilding funds unless the Bell Act was ratified. The Philippine Congress obliged on July 2, 1946.
Quotes
| “ | "The Philippines are ours forever. We will not repudiate our duty in the archipelago. We will not abandon our duty in the Orient. We will not renounce our part in the mission of our race, trustee under God, of the civilization of the world." —Albert J. Beveridge, US Senator, Indiana | ” |
| “ | "When I next realized that the Philippines had dropped into our laps I confess I did not know what to do with them. . . And one night late it came to me this way. . .1) That we could not give them back to Spain- that would be cowardly and dishonorable; 2) that we could not turn them over to France and Germany-our commercial rivals in the Orient-that would be bad business and discreditable; 3) that we not leave them to themselves-they are unfit for self-government-and they would soon have anarchy and misrule over there worse than Spain's wars; and 4) that there was nothing left for us to do but to take them all, and to educate the Filipinos, and uplift and civilize and Christianize them, and by God's grace do the very best we could by them, as our fellow-men for whom Christ also died." President McKinley | ” |
| “ | "Imperialism is the policy of an empire. And an empire is a nation composed of different races, living under varying forms of government. A republic cannot be an empire, for a republic rests upon the theory that the government derive their powers from the consent of the government and colonialism violates this theory. We do not want the Filipinos for citizens. They cannot, without danger to us, share in the government of our nation and moreover, we cannot afford to add another race question to the race questions which we already have. Neither can we hold the Filipinos as subjects even if we could benefit them by so doing. . . . Our experiment in colonialism has been unfortunate. Instead of profit, it has brought loss. Instead of strength, it has brought weakness. Instead of glory, it has brought humiliation." William Jennings Bryan 1900 Presidential Campaign Democratic candidate | ” |
See also
External links
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