TIMELINE OF AMERICAN OCCUPATION OF THE PHILIPPINES

American colonial objective in annexing the Philippines:

1. to pursue a “manifest destiny” for America as a world power,

2. to use the Philippines as a source of raw materials for US industries and as a market for US manufactured
products,
3. to use the Philippines as a military and naval base,
4. to have a refueling port for American ships servicing their interests in China.

A military government with General Wesley Merritt was established following the capture of Manila.
The authority of the Military Governor came from the powers of the President as Commander-in-chief
of the US Armed Forces. During the military rule (1898-1901) the American military commander
1898
governed the Philippines for the President of the United States. Its greatest achievements were:
 pacification of the country
 laying down the foundation of the civil regime
 introduced the American school system with soldiers as the first teachers

The Scurman Commission arrived in Manila to conduct a survey of Philippine conditions and to
achieve peaceful extension of American sovereignty over the archipelago. Its members were:
1. Dr. Jacob G. Scurman
1899
2. Maj. Gen. Elwell S. Otis
3. Rear Admiral George Dewey
4. Charles Denby
5. Dr. Dean C. Worcester

1. The Schurman Commission submitted its report to Pres. McKinley with the following
recommendations:
a) the establishment of a territorial form of government with a legislature of two houses
b) withdrawal of military rule in the pacified areas
c) the conservation of natural resources of the Philippines for the Filipinos
d) the organization of autonomous local government
e) opening of free elementary schools
f) appointment of men of high ability and good character to important government offices.

2. The Taft Commission arrived in Manila to initiate some sort of civil government in the
1900
Philippines. It was composed of;
a) William Howard Taft
b) Dr. Dean C. Worcester
c) Luke E. Wright
d) Henry C. Ide
e) Prof. Bernard Moses

3. The Bureau of Civil Service was established on November 31 with the mandate that the
“greatest care should be taken in the selection of officials for civil administration.” All
recruits, both American and Filipino, were to be “men of the highest character and fitness”
who would conduct their duties unaffected by “partisan politics.”

The civil government was inaugurated in Manila with William H. Taft as the Civil Governor. To him
was transferred the executive power formerly exercised by the Military Governor. The Commission
1901
continued to be the legislative body. Among them were Filipinos; Dr. T.H. Pardo de Tavera, Benito
Legarda, Sr., and Jose Luzuriaga. Cayetano Arellano was appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court.
 1. The US Congress passed the Cooper Bill, better known as the Philippine Bill of 1902.
Among its provisions were;
a) extension of the Bill of Rights to the Filipino people, except the right of jury trial,
b) appointment of two Filipino resident commissioners to Washington DC,
c) establishment of an elective Philippine Assembly, after the proclamation of complete
1902 peace, and two years after the publication of a census,
d) retention of the Philippine Commission as the upper house of the legislature, with the
Philippine Assembly acting as the lower house,
e) the conservation of the natural resources of the Philippines for the Filipino people

2. President Roosevelt proclaimed the end of the war and the existence of complete peace in the
Philippines.

1903 The Philippine Commission establishes a Moro province to govern Muslim Mindanao under the US
Army.

1. Americans arrest Macario Sakay and members of the New Katipunan.

1905 2. The first national convention of provincial governors is held in Manila.
3. Nacionalista party members Manuel L. Quezon and Sergio Osmeña enter the national
political arena.

1. Elections to the first Philippine Assembly are held, beginning of Nacionalista party
1907
dominance.
2. Sakay is hanged on charges of sedition and banditry.
1908
The University of the Philippines is established.

1. The US Congress passes the Payne-Aldrich Act, allowing partial free trade between the US
1909
and the Philippines.
2. General elections are help for delegates to the second Philippine Assembly.

1911 The American-dominated Philippine Commission and the Filipino-controlled Philippine Assembly
clash repeatedly over appointments.

1. President Woodrow Wilson signs the Jones Law, granting Philippine independence “as soon
1916
as a stable government is established.”
2. The Philippine Commission is replaced by a Senate and a House of Representative.
1917
The Partido Democratica is formed as the main opposition party to the dominant Nacionalista Party

1918 Governor Harrison sets up the Council of State which includes Quezon, Osmeña, and the heads of
different departments.

1919 The first “Philippine independence mission” is sent to the United States to negotiate with US officials
on the terms of independence.
1922
Tensions between Quezon and Osmeña lead to a split in the Nacionalista party.

Conflict between Filipino leaders and Governor Wood reaches a high point. Both houses issue a
1923
resolution calling for Wood’s recall and a mission is sent to the US, but President Calvin Coolidge
supports Wood.

1931 Filipinos send another independence mission to Washington under the leadership of Osmeña and
House Speaker Manuel Roxas.
 1934 1. The Tydings-McDuffie Law approves independence after a ten year transition.
2. Filipinos elect representatives to a convention to draft a constitution.

1. The new constitution is approved by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and by the Filipino
1935 people in a plebiscite.
2. Quezon is elected president and Osmeña vice president of the Commonwealth of the
Philippines.

While still debating whether tutelary government would culminate in autonomy or independence, the new governors
of the Philippines continued the rationalization and the strengthening of the colonial state begun by the Spanish.
They particularly focused on increasing capacity and infrastructure and consolidating control throughout the
territory. The United States departed from Spanish practice, however, in quickly expanding Filipino participation in
governance and building a universal educational system in the metropolitan language.

The institutional pillars of colonial state building included a professional civil service, public education to unify the
country and build capacity, and the formation and training of a Philippine Constabulary to keep the peace.
American supervision of these and other key agencies was tight, with few Filipinos in executive positions, though
many were recruited onto their staff.

Two goals are discernible in the Commission’s attitude toward colonial administration; 1) the eagerness to
distinguish American rule from that of the Spanish era, and promised a new civil service that would be “the product
of a daring adventure in ideas, and 2) determination that politics not undermine bureaucratic development.

Free public education at the elementary and secondary levels was aimed at achieving mass literacy, regarded as an
important foundation for a democratic polity. Top US officials were contemptuous of the Spanish educational
system saying that their predecessors “had not encouraged the general learning of Spanish perhaps from a fear that
general education and common language would give the Filipinos too much cohesion.” As with the civil service,
educational policy met with the broad approval of Filipino leadership. Obviously, the Spanish-trained faced a
linguistic transition, but advancement in the civil service was a powerful incentive to learn English.

The third essential institution was the Philippine Constabulary, an insular police force that replaced the irredeemable
Guardia Civil. Led by Americans with some junior Filipino officers, the Constabulary recruited among Christians,
Muslims, and northern Philippine “non-Christian groups. Regarded as peace officers, constabulary units were also
charged to “prevent and suppress brigandage, insurrection, unlawful assemblies, and breaches of the peace.

REFERENCE:

Abinales, Amoroso. State and Society in the Philippines. Rowman & Littlefield Publisher, Inc., 2005. Lanham
MD. Anvil Publishing. 2005. Quezon City