Republic of the Philippines

Philippine Science High School

Eastern Visayas Campus
Palo, Leyte

Written report in
SocSci1:
PHILIPPINES
UNDER
COMMONWEALTH
PERIOD

Prepared by:
Secretary – Jasmine Abuda
Reporter – Vianna Llevado
Genius – Bella Zabala

Submitted to:

ANNE DOMINIQUE C. DUQUE

SOCSCI Teacher

January 2023
 On November 15, 1935, the Filipino people took the penultimate step to independence with the
inauguration of the Commonwealth of the Philippines. The Commonwealth was the conclusion of
efforts to ensure a quintessential timetable for the withdrawal of American authority over the
Philippines. Early on, the United States founded local governments with locally elected town and
provincial officers. Afterward came a gradual increase in national legislative representation, starting
with the Philippine Assembly in 1907. The pledge of eventual independence, where the Filipinos
were ready for self-governance, was not created until the Jones Law of 1916. The Jones Law made
an all-Filipino legislature comprised of the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives.

In 1934 the vague American promise that someday the Philippine Islands would be set free to
govern themselves as an independent nation was put into the relatively exact terms of law. The
Tydings-McDuffie or Philippine Independence Act of that year did not give precise and final answers
to all the questions of future Philippine-United States relations. But it went very far in laying down
the lines of procedure for an orderly and mutually agreeable transfer of the reins of government
from American to Philippine hands. The law called upon the Filipinos to draw up a constitution and
submit it to the president of the United States and to the people of the islands for approval. This
constitution had to provide for a republican form of government, a bill of rights, and certain
guarantees to the United States until the day of final independence. For example, the United States
retained complete or partial control over foreign relations, finances, and defenses. After ten years of
gradual withdrawal, known as the "Commonwealth" period, all ties were to be severed. The only
exceptions concerned arrangements for the continued use of naval reservations and fueling stations
by the United States. These were left to be negotiated after July 4, 1946, the planned date of
complete independence. Before that date, arrangements for future commercial relations were to be
negotiated.

The Philippine Senate and House of Legislators were established as an all Filipino legislative as a
result of the Jones Law. But only Americans who were chosen by the President of the United States
were permitted to hold the office of Chief Executive, the Governor-General, and what was seen as
the most significant cabinet portfolio or public Instruction. Additionally, there was a portion of the
Philippine Supreme Court reserved for Americans. Tenant farmers held grievances often rooted to
debt caused by the sharecropping system, as well as by the dramatic increase in population, which
added economic pressure to the tenant farmers' families. As a result, an agrarian reform program
was initiated by the Commonwealth. However, success of the program was hampered by ongoing
clashes between tenants and landowners.