The Summary

Late Years of Spanish Colonialism

By the second half of the 19th century the ilustrados had begun to agitate for reforms in both the civil and ecclesiastical establishments. In Spain the revolution of 1868 had produced a democratic constitution that provided for equality and civil and political rights. In the Philippines the ilustrados asked that these rights be extended to Filipinos.

Spanish-American War
The Spanish-American War turned the tables in favor of the revolutionaries when the Americans helped in their realization of the breaking free from the shackles of servitude to an imperial power.

Battle of Manila Bay

The Battle of Manila Bay sealed Spains fate as the ruler of the Philippines, however the revolutions success would be unjustly denied by America.

The United States later distanced itself from the interests of the Filipino insurgents. Relations deteriorated and tensions heightened as it became clear that the Americans were in the islands to stay.

Philippine-American War
Her intentions being now clear to the revolutionaries, thus the result was the PhilippineAmerican War, a bloody war waged by a nascent democracy struggling to defend itself from a new colonizer. However, the war ended in favor of the Americans with her vast military machinery.

American Tutelage
The Americans nursed the country back to health and growth. The country prospered under their tutelage and eventual freedom was promised. However, in light of the prosperity being endowed to the country various accumulated problems still beset her e.g. the agrarian unrest, an economy entirely dependent upon the Americans, the national defense dilemma, etc.

Commonwealth of the Philippines

The promise of freedom was realized with the inauguration of the Commonwealth Government in November 1935 with Quezon as president and Osmea as vice president.

WW II and Japanese Occupation

Japanese air forces struck Clark Air Base in the Philippines, destroying the American B-17 bombers MacArthur withdrew all his forces The American and Filipino troops left behind surrendered at Bataan in April and at Corregidor in May Death March across treacherous terrain to a prison camp near Cabunatuan 1942 - the Hukbalahaps 1943 - Japan recognized an independent Philippine republic with Jos P. Laurel as president 1944 - MacArthur returned to the Philippines 1945 U.S. Troops reached Manila Sept. 2, 1945 Japanese surrendered to the Allies

Sources

http://www.etravelpilipinas.com/about_philippines/philipp ine_culture.htm Steinberg, David Joel. "Republic of the Philippines. "Spanish-American War." Microsoft Encarta 2007

Rudyard Kipling (1865 - 1936) Indian-born British writer and poet. "The White Man's Burden"