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PHILIPPINE HISTORY, POLITICS
GOVERNANCE & CONSTITUTION
Lesson Title
Lesson Target
Reference
Title
Author

Lesson No.
Date

The Philippines under American Colonial Rule
To examine American colonial policies and the legacies of their occupation History of the Filipino People
Teodoro Agoncillo

Page
Number(s)

214-383

I. Benevolent Assimilation Proclamation
President William McKinley justified the American occupation of the Philippines by issuing the Benevolent Assimilation Proclamation on December 21, 1898. The proclamation argued that Americans will take the duty of educating, civilizing and uplifting the conditions of the Filipinos, whom they called as their “little brown brothers”. McKinley reasoned that this would greatly benefit the Filipinos since they are still unprepared for self-government.

Figure 1. A caricature depicting the Benevolent Assimilation Proclamation of McKinley which appeared in a New York newspaper in 1898.
Photo source: Source: https://mstartzman.pbworks.com/w/page/35813882/benevolent%20assimilation%20(second)

However, this was simply a deception. The truth is that the US had vested interests in the Philippines which include (Agoncillo, 1990):
1. Economic – the US wanted the Philippines to be a source of raw materials for its industries and a base for expanding its business in the Orient, especially in China.

2. Military – the US wanted the Philippines as the first line of American defense in the
Pacific front
3. Religious – the US wanted the Philippines as a base of operations for Protestant missionaries II. Preparation for Self-Autonomy
When the Filipino-American ended, Americans immediately established a civilian colonial government and encouraged the Filipinos to participate in it. The highest positions in the government were occupied by Americans, but the local government was completely controlled by the Filipinos (Zaide, 1994). When the liberal-minded Francis Burton-Harrison became the governor-general of the Philippines in 1912, he adopted a policy of wider
Filipinization of the government service.
To further stabilize peace and order in the Philippines, Congress passed the
Philippine Bill of 1902, which provided for the establishment of a Filipino assembly and promised eventual self-government. Political parties were formed in the country all aiming to secure complete independence for the country. Political missions were sent to the
American Congress to seek laws that will grant independence to the Philippines.
There were two successful missions that were sent to the US and these brought back independence bills for the Philippines. The first of this was the Os-Rox mission by Sergio
Osmena and Manuel Roxas which was able to bring home the Hare-Hawes-Cutting Bill from the US Congress. The second mission was carried out by Manuel L. Quezon which brought back the Tydings-McDuffie Law. The two bills were essentially the same. Both provided for the establishment of a 10-year Commonwealth to serve a transition government before the proclamation of independence on July 4, 1946. The only difference was the naval and military provisions in the Hares-Hawes-Cutting Bill which was eliminated in the Tydings-McDuffie Law.
III. The Commonwealth Government
After the Tydings-McDuffie Law was accepted by the Philippine Assembly, a constitutional convention was called into order to draft a constitution. This resulted to the
1935 Constitution, which followed the American model in structure and appearance
(Agoncillo, 1990). After the Constitution was approved and ratified, the Commonwealth government was inaugurated on November 15, 1935 with Quezon as the President.
Immediately, upon assuming the presidency, Quezon undertook the task of laying the foundations of the future Philippine republic. Among the achievements of the
Commonwealth include: 1) creation of the Department of National Defense; 2) granting women the right to vote; 3) adoption of Filipino as a national language; 4) providing free primary education to Filipino children.

Figure 2. Manuel L. Quezon during the inauguration of the
Commonwealth government in 1935.
Photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/johntewell/5694772771

IV. Legacies of the American Colonial Rule
1. Democracy – while it is true that Filipinos already had some idea of democratic political government, the American strengthened our adherence to democracy by training us to work under democratic ways and institutions.
2. Popular education – Education was no longer a privilege for the members of the rich families. With the introduction of nationwide public school system, it became the right of all Filipinos.
3. English language – English is one of the two official languages in the country and widely used as the language of commerce, government and as medium of instruction in school.
4. American lifestyle and culture – Filipinos are very much Westernized in diet and dress, in the preference of entertainment, arts, sports, etc.
OTHER REFERENCES:
Carstensen, M. U.S. Occupation of the Philippines. (lesson plan) Available at: www.washoe.k12.nv.us/americanhistory/secondary/.../carstensenm4.doc Rosales, A. (2003) Pilipinas: heograpiya, kasaysayan at pamahalaan. Manila: Mary Jo
Zaide, S. (1994). The Philippines: a unique nation. Quezon City: All-Nations Publishing
____________. Philippine-American War (1898 - 1946). Available at: http://www.philippinecountry.com/philippine_history/american_period.html

References: Carstensen, M. U.S. Occupation of the Philippines. (lesson plan) Available at: www.washoe.k12.nv.us/americanhistory/secondary/.../carstensenm4.doc Rosales, A. (2003) Pilipinas: heograpiya, kasaysayan at pamahalaan. Manila: Mary Jo Zaide, S. (1994). The Philippines: a unique nation. Quezon City: All-Nations Publishing ____________. Philippine-American War (1898 - 1946). Available at: http://www.philippinecountry.com/philippine_history/american_period.html