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There was very little in a way of immediate economic interest to make our country of special concern to Americans by the time the Spanish-American War brought Commodore George Dewey’s fleet to Manila Harbor to do battle with the Spanish flotilla on the night of April 30 and the morning of May 1, 1898.2 The Spanish-American War of 1898 provided the opportunity for Filipinos to get rid themselves of Spanish rule. But now Americans asked if they should not take over our country. The virus of imperialism had infected many Americans who wanted to get into the European race for colonies. Theodore Roosevelt, the Under Secretary of the Navy and an enthusiastic proponent of imperialism, on his own initiative had ordered Admiral Dewey to Manila.3 They think that if they would not take over the Philippines, maybe the islands would be seized by another power. There has been a controversy regarding the terms of agreement between General Aguinaldo and Admiral Dewey. Admiral Dewey declared he had given the Filipino leader no direct promise regarding American recognition of the republic.4 Americans think they had the responsibility to Christianize and educate Filipinos; they were unaware that most of us were Catholic Christians. Anti imperialist voices were raised, too, and the vote in the U.S. Senate ratifying the Peace treaty by which the Philippines was handed over to the United States passed by only one vote. The Filipino revolutionaries cried foul and resumed fighting, now against the American troops that were occupying the country.5 This reaction caught Americans by surprise, and even worse, the Filipinos using guerilla tactics were difficult to defeat. The United States made peace by offering the illustrados all they could possibly want. The U.S promised to end the religious orders, guarantee private property, limit the franchise to the educated, place illustrados in key positions, hold early elections, and make America’s stay in the Philippines brief.6 The Treaty of Paris was signed on December 10, 1898. By the Treaty, Cuba gained its independence and Spain ceded the Philippines, Guam and Puerto Rico to the United States for the sum of US$20 million.7 This was not well received in the Philippines. Filipino nationalists were incensed at the arrogance of the imperial powers to bargain away their independence for the tidy price of US$20 million with not so much as a pretence of consultation with Filipinos. Given its own history of colonial revolution, American opinion was uncomfortable and divided on the moral principle of owning colonial dependencies. Having acquired the Philippines almost by accident, the United States was not sure what to do with them. On January 20, 1899, President McKinley appointed the First Philippine Commission (Schurman Commission) to make recommendations. Aguinaldo did not need recommendations to decide what he would do. On January 23, 1899 he proclaimed the Malolos Constitution and the First Philippine Republic. The hostilities in the Philippine War of Independence began on February 4, 1899 and continued for two years. The United States needed 126,000 soldiers to subdue the Philippines. The war took the lives of 4,234 Americans and 16,000 Filipinos. As usual in guerrilla campaigns, the civilian population suffers the worst. As many as 200,000 civilians died from famine and diseases. The Filipino rebels did not do well in the field. Aguinaldo and his government escaped the capture of Malolos on March 31, 1899 and were driven into northern Luzon. Peace feelers from members of Aguinaldo's cabinet failed in May when the American commander, General Ewell Otis, demanded an unconditional surrender. Aguinaldo disbanded his regular forces in November and began a guerrilla campaign concentrated mainly in the Tagalog areas of central Luzon. Aguinaldo was captured on March 23, 1901. In Manila he was persuaded to swear allegiance to the United States and called on his soldiers to put down their arms. The United States declared an end to military rule on July 4, 1901. Sporadic resistance continued until 1903.8 Americans introduce public school system employing English for instruction is the most consequential of all American innovations. Vocational and normal schools were opened to train educational personnel. Textbooks first came direct from American school systems. They also imbibed a new sense of values as they say how man of humble origins could rise through his own efforts. The Catholic Church, so dominant during the Spanish era, now experienced its own metamorphosis. Revolt against Spain had stirred some Filipino members of the clergy to join in creation of Philippines Independent Church that severed all ties with Rome and competed for a following. U.S. administrations opened the Islands to Protestant missionaries for their churches, particularly among the emerging middle class.9 Among the entire American introduction none proved more congenial for Filipino than the new profession of politics. By act of U.S. Congress elective government was instituted in the municipalities in 1902, extending the restricted franchise of the Spanish period.10 I do agree that Americans civilized us and helped my country to get rid of Spanish regime but in my own opinion they did what Spanish did to us as well. It might not been as bloody as Spanish’ occupation but they did control us. It’s true, they could civilize us but we should be able to have the freedom to live the way we have always lived. I also feel that we should have the opportunity to decide if we would want to be governed by the U.S. government. Bibliography: 1. Ravenholt, Albert, The Philippines, A Young republic On The Move (PA: Lancaster Press Inc; 1962), pp. 51 2. Gregor, James, Crisis In The Philippines, A Retreat to U.S. Interest (Ethics and Public Policy; 1984), pp. 2 3. Akira, Ireya, The World of Asia (Wheeling IL: Harlan Davidson Inc; 1995), pp. 348 4. Hawes, Harry, Philippine Uncertainty (Century Company; 1931), pp. 111 5. Ireya, Op. Cit. pp. 348 6. Ireya, Op. Cit. pp. 349 7. Hawes, Op. Cit. pp 138 8. www.pubwebs.cns.www.edu/~flip/history/ 9. Ravenholt, Op. Cit. pp. 59-60 10. Ravenholt, Op. Cit. pp. 61 Word Count: 971
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