First Philippine Independence, U.S. Colonisation (1898 - 1946)

1898 [top]

Apr 24: The U.S. government asks Aguinaldo for cooperation in its anti-Spanish politics, and offers in exchange the promise of US support for the Filipinos in their struggle for independence. Aguinaldo agrees.

Apr 26: The U.S. declares war on Spain.

Jun 12: The Philippines is proclaimed independent from Spain in Kawit, Cavite. For the first time, the Philippine flag is officially raised and the Philippine National Anthem is publicly played.

Dec 10: In the Treaty of Paris between the US and Spain, Spain sells the Philippines to the US for $20 million.

Dec 21: U.S. issues the Benevolent Assimilation Proclamation to extend the sovereignty of the U.S. over the entire Philippines.

1899 [top]

Jan 21: The Malolos Constitution is published by Aguinaldo. It provides for a republican form of government.

Feb 6: The U.S. Senate ratifies the Treaty of Paris with Spain and gives the U.S. military a free hand to control the Philippines.

1901 [top]

Mar 2: The Army Appropriation Act, also known as the Spooner Amendment, is passed by the US Senate, formally ending the U.S. military regime in the Phililppines.

1902 [top]

The Cooper Act, known as the Philippine Bill of 1902, is passed by the U.S. Senate committee. It provides for a bill of rights, allowing Filipinos to study in the U.S. which helped modernize and westernize the country.

1916 [top]

Oct 16: U.S. government passes the Jones Law establishing an elected Filipino legislature.

1934 [top]

Mar 24: The Tydings-McDuffie Act, known as the Philippine Independence Law, is approved by President Roosevelt. It provides for a ten year transition period of the Philippines under a constitution to be drafted by a Constitutional Convention.

1935 [top]

Feb 15: The Philippine Constitution is signed.

Nov 15: The Philippine Commonwealth is inaugurated with Manuel Quezon as the first President and Sergio Osmena as the first Vice-President.

1941 [top]

Dec 8: After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Japanese fighter planes attack the Philippines as an "ally" of the U.S.

Dec 26: U.S. troops leave the capital. General MacArthur declares Manila an open city, surrendering it to the Japanese.

1942 [top]

Apr 9: Bataan is the last province that surrenders to the Japanese armies. The infamous Bataan Death March follows - the painful trek of 36,000 U.S. and Filipino soldiers without food and water. Prisoners of the war were bayonetted or brutally beaten to death by their guards. Those who reached San Fernando City, Pampanga were taken to a concentration camp at Capaz, Tarlac.

1944 [top]

Oct 23: The Commonwealth government of the Philippines is re-established in Tacloban, Leyte which is declared the temporary capital of the Philippines pending liberation of the whole country.

1945 [top]

Feb 24: The Battle of Manila ends and the Japanese surrender to the U.S.

1946 [top]

Jul 4: The U.S. declares the Independence of the Philippines!