Introduction
The Philippines was colonized by Spain in the 16th century and was under Spanish rule for over 300 years. The Spanish-American War in 1898 marked the end of Spain’s rule over the Philippines. As a result of the war, Spain ceded the Philippines, along with Puerto Rico and Guam, to the United States. The US took control of the Philippines and colonized it from 1898 until the Philippines gained independence in 1946.
Spanish Colonization of the Philippines
The Philippines was originally inhabited by various indigenous groups. In 1521, Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan arrived and claimed the islands for Spain. The Spanish did not establish permanent settlements until 1565 when Miguel López de Legazpi arrived from Mexico and established the first Spanish settlement on Cebu. This began the process of colonization and Hispanicization of the Philippines.
The Spanish used the islands as a trading port between China and Mexico. They introduced Christianity, the Spanish language, and Spanish culture to the islands. However, the Spanish rule was also marked by various revolts from the native Filipinos. Notable revolts include the Dagohoy Rebellion from 1744-1828 and the Philippine Revolution from 1896-1898 led by revolutionary Andrés Bonifacio.
Despite the revolts, Spain managed to maintain control over the Philippines until the outbreak of the Spanish-American War.
The Spanish-American War
In 1898, the United States declared war against Spain following the sinking of the US battleship Maine in Havana harbor which was then part of Spain’s remaining overseas territories. The war was fought between Spain and the United States with the victory going to the US. As part of the peace settlement, the Treaty of Paris, Spain ceded control of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines to the United States.
Key Events of the War
| February 15, 1898 | Sinking of the USS Maine in Havana harbor |
| April 25, 1898 | US declares war on Spain |
| May 1, 1898 | US naval victory at Manila Bay in the Philippines |
| July 17, 1898 | US victory in the Battle of San Juan Hill in Cuba |
| August 12, 1898 | Armistice signed ending hostilities |
| December 10, 1898 | Treaty of Paris signed |
The defeat highlighted the decline of Spanish imperial power. The loss of its remaining overseas colonies ended Spain’s 400 year rule as a colonial power.
US Colonization of the Philippines
With victory over Spain, the United States gained control of the Philippines which it formally colonized from 1898-1946. US forces had taken Manila in May 1898 prior to the end of the war. The Filipino revolutionary forces who had been fighting the Spanish did not accept US control and shifted to fighting the Americans. This led to the Philippine-American War from 1899-1902 which the US eventually won.
Key Events of US Colonization
| 1898 | Spain cedes Philippines to US per Treaty of Paris |
| 1899-1902 | Philippine-American War |
| 1902 | US establishes civil government in the Philippines |
| 1916 | US makes Philippines an autonomous commonwealth |
| 1935 | US grants Philippines independence but free trade required |
| 1941-1945 | Japan occupies Philippines during WWII |
| 1946 | US recognizes Philippines independence |
Initially the US military government ruled the Philippines from 1898 to 1902 when a civil government was established with William Howard Taft as the first civilian governor. In 1916, the US passed the Jones Act which established the Philippines as an autonomous commonwealth with an elected Filipino legislature. The intention was to progressively grant the Philippines independence.
However, the complete US withdrawal was delayed. The passage of the Tydings–McDuffie Act in 1934 set a deadline for full independence in 1946 after a 10 year transition period. The Philippines adopted a new constitution in 1935 which established the Commonwealth of the Philippines. Full US recognition of Philippine independence was granted on July 4, 1946.
US Cultural Influence and Impact
Nearly 50 years of American rule left a significant impact on the culture of the Philippines. Some of the key influences included:
- English language: English is one of the official languages of the Philippines
- Education system structured on the US model
- US style democracy and political institutions
- Christianity strengthened – Catholicism and Protestantism
- American pop culture influences
- Many Filipino expatriates living in US
The US colonial policies aimed to ‘civilize’ the Filipinos. The education system in particular was used to inculcate American culture and values into the local population. By the time the US granted independence, the Philippines was significantly ‘Americanized’ after five decades of colonization.
Conclusion
The Philippines was a Spanish colony for over 300 years until Spain’s defeat in the Spanish-American War led to it being ceded to the United States in 1898. This began around five decades of US colonial rule. The US government introduced reforms mirroring political institutions in the mainland United States. They also revamped the education system with English instruction, essentially aiming to shape an Americanized population.
Although the Philippines gained independence in 1946, the extensive period of American colonial rule left a lasting legacy on Philippine society and culture. The Philippines adopted American style democracy, promoted English alongside Filipino as an official language, and maintained close ties with the United States.
