Araling Panlipunan

Ikalawang Markahan – Modyul 1:

Ang Uri ng Pamahalaan at Patakarang

Ipinatupad sa Panahon ng mga

Amerikano

(Translated to English)

The Military Government

After more than three hundred years of slavery to the Spanish, the Americans came to our country.
Many changes took place that had never been experienced in the Spanish government.

After the Spanish surrendered Manila to the Americans, President William McKinley ordered the
establishment of a Military Government in the Philippines. Because this is what the opportunity
demands because the time is not yet peaceful. Its goal is the peace, order and tranquility of the country.

After the United States Congress ratified the Paris Agreement. President McKinley appointed General
Wesley Merritt as military governor on August 14, 1898. He was succeeded by General Elwell Otis (1898-
1900) and General Arthur Mac Arthur (1900-1901). The military governor has executive, legislative, and
judicial powers.

The United States Congress agreed to replace the Military Government and make it a Civilian
Government because they wanted to get the will of the Filipinos. It was called the Spooner Amendment
to the Army Appropriation Bill in March 1901 because it was proposed by Senator John C. Spooner. The
Spooner Amendment provided the President of the United States with the power to establish a Civil
Government while there was no solid law for the establishment of a new government in the country.
The Military Government lasted only three years.

Apart from pacifying the parts of the Philippines that did not want to recognize the United States, the
military government prepared the foundation of the civil government, such as the opening of public
schools whose first teachers were American soldiers; establishment of courts, including the Supreme
Court composed of nine justices, three Americans and six Filipinos. In May 1899, Cayetano Arellano was
appointed as the first Filipino Chief Justice. Holding of the first public election in Baliwag Bulacan in May
1899. On March 29, 1900 a decree was issued regarding the establishment of local governments in the
country.

This move by the Americans brought them closer to the Filipinos. Because they were given the
opportunity to choose a future leader through elections, unlike during the Spanish era when the chooser
was the less friar.

Military Government Policies

The main policy to follow and gain the trust of Filipinos is Humane Assimilation or Benevolent
Assimilation. The American Government believes that through this, the Filipinos can be taught and
helped to develop their lifestyle and establish their own government.
 The First Commission of the Philippines (Schurman Commission)

In order to ensure that the condition of the Philippines is in order, President McKinley established teams
to observe, investigate and report to him about the condition of the Philippines. It was called the
Schurman Commission and the Taft Commission

The first commission was called the Schurman Commission headed by Dr. Jacob Gould Schurman and it
arrived in the Philippines on March 4, 1899. Schurman was accompanied by Admiral George Dewey as
the commander of the American squadron in Asia; General Elwell Otis the Military Governor of the
Philippines; Charles Denby, American minister to China; and Prof. Dean C. Worcester, professor of the
University of Michigan.

The main purpose of the Schurman Commission is to observe the political situation of the Philippines, to
make good with the Filipinos, and 10 CO_Q2_AP 6_ Module 1 propose plans for the Philippines. The
commission returned to the United States and reported to President McKinley on January 31, 1900.

Second Commission (Taft Commission)

The second commission appointed by President McKinley on March 16, 1900 arrived here in the
Philippines on June 3, 1900 headed by William Howard Taft. With Taft were Luke E. Wright, Henry C. Ide,
Dean C. Worcester and Bernard Moses. The main objective of the commission is to carry out the
measures suggested by the first commission.

The Civil Government

The Civil Government under William Howard Taft

William Howard Taft was appointed the first Civil Governor of the Philippines and President of the
Philippine Commission (or Legislature). His Commission also included Trinidad H. Pardo de Tavera,
Benito Legarda, and Jose Ruiz de Luzuriaga

Taft got close to the feelings of the Filipinos because of his humanitarian leadership. His policy of "The
Philippines is For the Filipinos" allowed Taft to gain the respect and admiration of the Filipinos. Although
many trials and problems were faced under his leadership, this did not prevent him from improving the
condition of the country.

Civil Government existed in the Philippine Islands except for Mindanao, Sulu and South Palawan. Some
of Taft's promises under the Civil Government are as follows:

1. Cessation of hostilities, promotion of peace, and stabilization of Local Government.

2. Spreading the slogan "The Philippines is For the Filipinos."

3. Valuing civil rights and practicing free governance in one's own country.

4. Development of education and sanitation in the Philippines.

5. Encouraging Americans to do business in the Philippines.

The Civil Service Commission was enacted on September 19,1900. It provides for giving an exam to
anyone who wants to serve in the government. Anyone who passes the test can work in the public
service.

Many Filipinos were given the opportunity to work in the government such as Cayetano Arellano who
was the chief justice of the Supreme Court, and Dr. Trinidad H. Pardo de Tavera, Benito Legarda and Jose
Ruiz de Luzurriaga.

Binigyan ni Taft ng pagkakataon ang mga Pilipino na mapalawak ang pakikilahok sa pamahalaan.
Matapos ang panunungkulan ni Taft sumunod sa kanya sina Luke E. Wright (1904-1906), Henry C. Ide
(1906-1907), James F. Smith (1906-1909) at William C. Forbes (1909-1913).

Policies Implemented by the United States in the Philippines

The main policy to follow and gain the trust of Filipinos is Humane Assimilation or Benevolent
Assimilation. The American Government believes that through this, the Filipinos can be educated and
helped to develop their lifestyle and establish their own government.

The following is among the principles of the Benevolent Assimilation policy.

1. declaration of conquest of the entire archipelago;

2. establishment of a government similar to the United States;

3. recognizing the rights of citizens; and

4. Prohibition of exploitation of Filipinos.

Benevolent Assimilation is considered the first official policy of the United States in the Philippines. This
also served as a guide to the military government in the country.

Political Policy