+Chap 16 – American Colonial Rule: Policy and
Exercise executive, judicial and legislative
Governance ( 1899 – 1907 )
1. Winning the war was not a guarantee that the
Filipinos were willing to accept the Americans.
2. Winning the hearts and minds of the Filipinos was
very important but very hard to acomplish.
3. The United States intended to occupy the Phils
with least violence and to govern the country with
much regards for the interest and welfare of the
people. But the war prevented them from doing
so.
4. Repressive measures applied to Filipinos:
a. Martial Law
b. Brigandage Act
c. use of reconcentration tactics
5. After the war, programs applied to stabilize
American rule:
a. public education
b. election
c. All Filipino lower house was created
d. US Govt scholarships
The Military Rule
1. After the Phil- American War, the Phils was
administered by the Pres of the United States
through the Military.
2. Pres McKinley ordered the Military Commander
Gen Wesley Meritt as the 1st Military
Governor.
3. Merritt succeeded by General Elwell Otis.
Otis was military Governor from Aug 1898 to
May 1900.
4. General Arthur MacArthur succeeded Otis and
governed the Philippines until May 1901.
5. Powers of the Military Governor:
a.
powers;
Transition of these powers:
In 1899, the military gov was divested of
judicial powers and transferred to the judiciary.
Then slowly, his powers were taken away from
him
In 1900, his legislative powers were
transferred to the Philippine Commission.
In 1901, his executive power was finally
given to the Civil Governor , when all the local
govt was established.
b. Pacification of the provinces which has not yet
recognized the authority of the United States.
c. maintenance of peace and order of pacified
areas.
In pacified areas, the military governor will
order the organization of towns and provincial govts.
Baliwag, Bulacan – The 1st town under
Americal rule to hold elections in May 7, 1898.
d. introduced the public school system with
american soldiers acting as teachers.
American Policies in the Philippines
1. Pres McKinley wanted the entire Philippines for
the United States.
2. Pres McKinley created The first Philippine
Commission. This was called the Schurmann
Commission.
3. “ Instructions “ to the Schurmann Commission:
a. authority of the United States should be
extended all over the Philippines in a peaceful
manner;
 b. secure, with the least possible delay, the c. the english language should be used as a
benefit of a wise and generous protection of medium of instruction
life and property.
4. American policy with regard to the Phils
c. to respect the customs and traditions of the
Filipinos; -- The Americans came to the Phils not as
conquerors but as friends whose aim was to work
for the benefit and welfare of the filipino people.
Schurmann Commission
5. The Taft Commission stayed in the Phils to
1. By Jacob Gould Schurmann. organize the civil govt.

2. Arrived in the Phils in Mar 1899 and after 1

month, issued the ff recommendations to
implement American rule: The Civil Government

a. the enforcement of American sovereignty over 1. March 1901 – Congress of the United States
the entire Phils; passed the Army Appropriations Act.

b. training for self govt of the filipinos An amendment was inserted by John
compatible with the maintenance of order and Spooner which authorize the President of the
wise , just and economical administration of United States to establish a Civil govt in the Phils.
the public affairs;
This amendment is called the Spooner
c. protection of the civil rights of the Filipinos amendment and became the basis of the civil govt
in the Phils.
d. the promotion of the welfare of the Filipinos
2. July 4, 1901 – the Civil Government was
inaugurated with William Howard Taft as the First
With its work finished, Pres McKinley Civil Governor.
appointed a Second Commission – the Taft
Commission.
Resistance to Taft’s Policy

The Taft Commission 1. Guerilla fighting continued in 1899- 1900.

1. Created in 1900. 2. In Luzon and Visayas, the filipino patriots were

harassing the americans;
2. Chairman – William Howard Taft

3. Newly elected town officials secretly aided the

guerilla with food , supplies and information.

4. There was famine bec agriculture was neglected

and due to rinderpest that killed 90% of the
3. “Instructions” to the Taft Commission: carabaos;

a. To establish a govt for the Filipinos and Results:

the steps in attaining this goal should be
in accordance with the customs and a. malnutrition
traditions of the people. b. scarcity of food
c. hunger
b. Free Primary Education
 d. sanitation conditions in reconcentration
camps were very poor due to over
crowding.
5. Not enough money for the reconstruction and
rehabilitation of devastated countryside.
6. Repressive laws were passed:
a. Reconcentration Act
- zoning of inhabitants of a town
known to have thiees and outlaws.
- purpose of the law:
Discourage the civilian
populationfrom supporting the guerillas and to
subject them to zoning.
b. Martial Law was declared on Dec 20,
1900
- to interrupt and destroy the system by
which supplies and information are sent to
insurrectos from occupied towns
c. Brigandage Act
- provide for severe penalty to those found
in the company , or were members, of armed
groups who were stealing carabaos.
7. With these laws, the filipino guerillas were forced
to surrender and little by little, peace and order
improved and Taft appealed to the American
Congress to appropriate sufficient funds to give
economic relief to the suffering Filipinos.
The US Congress listened to Gov Taft and
appropriated P6M to help the Filipinos start a new
life.
8. Govt Taft is remembered for his principle-
“ the Philippines is for the Filipinos”
Banishment of the Patriots
1. Filipinos who said the Phils is not prepared for
self govt and collaborated with the Americans
- Trinidad H Pardo de Tavera
- Benito Legarda
- Felipe Buencamino
- Cayetano Arellano
2. Filipinos who refused to collaborate with the
Americans
- Mabini – wrote articles attacking the
Americans
3. Because they refused to collaborate with the
Americans. These Filipino patriots were
banished to Guam.
- Mabini - Julian Gerona
- Artemio Ricarte - MelchoraAquino
- Maximo Hizon
The Philippine Bill of 1902
1. Also know as :
Philippine Act of 1902
Cooper Law
2. Important features:
a. this law approved all acts of the Pres of
the United States relative to the Phils
b. bill of rights was provided which
guaranteed the Filipinos right to free
press, free speech and freedom to petitio
for the redress of grievances.
c. Executive Departments were provided:
- Dept of Commerce and Police
- Dept of the Interior
- Dept of finance and Justice
- Dept of Public Instruction
d. The Filipino people were also given the
right to send 2 representatives , known as
resident commissioners, to the
Congress of the United Statesso they
could serve the interest of their country.
- they could not however vote.

e. Very important provision of the Cooper
Act:
-the establishment of the Phil
Assembly to be run by filipinos 2 years
after peace and order had been
proclaimed throughout the Phils by the
President of the United States.
The Census of 1903
1. With guerilla warfare under contro, Gov Taft
recommended to Pres Roosevelt that peace and
order be officially proclaimed in the Phils.
2. After the Proclamation, the civil govt under Taft
decided to take a census of the Phils.
3. March 2, 1903 – Census Day .
This is the first scientific census ever to be
taken in the Phils.
4. A reliable census of the country was necessary
before elections for the Phil Assembly could take
place.
5. informations needed in the census:
1. number of inhabitants in the locality
2. number and kind of industries , diseases
6. Result of the census of 1905
Population of the Phils as of March 2, 1903 –
7, 635, 426
Political Parties
1. Filipinos were allowed to form political parties as
long as their platform of govt is not based on
independence.
a. Trinidad H. Pardo de Tavera
- formed the 1st officially recogized political
party in the Phils.
- the Federal Party- platform of govt is the
annexation of the Phils as one of the States of the
United States.
- Federal party later changed its
name to Progresista Party
Other political parties:
1. Nacionalista party- opposed to
annexation to the US
- campaigned for immediate
independence
2. Liberal Party
3. the first Democrata Party
1907 – 2 political parties decided to merge
and it became the second Nacionalista
Party.
- It became very popular
- it shows that some Filipino
politicians remained pro-
independence .
The Election of 1907
1. In accordance with Cooper Act or the
Philippines Bill of 1902, the Filipinos could elect
delegates to the Philippine Assmebly 2 years after
peace and order had been proclaimed in the
country.
2. Issue presented -
Whether or not they wanted immediate
independence as announced by the Nacionalista
Party or eventaul independence as proclaimed by
Progresista Party.
3. Results :
Nacionalista Party – won 59 seats
Progresista Party - won 16 seats
Independent Party- won 5 seats
 The First Philippine Assembly
1. Philippine Assembly - Lower House
- composed of Filipinos
Philippine Commission- Upper House
- composed of americans
2. Philippine Assembly
a. Speaker - Serio Osmena
Majority floor Leader – Manuel L.
Quezon
b. They adopted the rule of the American
Congress to guide them in their
deliberations
c. It was the 1st significant step towards
close Filipino – American cooperation.
d. 1st time for the filipinos to be given
representations in law making.
Work of the Assembly
1. Goals:
a. cooperating with the United States on the
basis of mutual respect;
b. Making the assmebly as an instrument in
achieving autonomy of the Phils.
c. Passing laws to hasten the economic,
social and politial development of the
people;
d. Substituting the oppressive policy of the
past with progressive policies.
2. Achievements of the Philippine Assembly:
a. Establishment of agricultural banks
b. Construction of new railway lines
c. Installation of telegraph and tel lines
d. Construction of school houses, buildings,
roads etc.
e. Creation of the Bureau of Labor to protect
the laboring class
f. Establishment of the School of Fine Arts
of the Univ. of the Phils
g. Establishment of the National Library
Resident Commissioners
1. They were elected to the US Congress
2. They worked for laws that are beneficail for the
Phils
3. They fought for the rejection of bills presented to
Congress which were detrimental to the Filipinos
The Public School system
1. Education system of the americans was
democratic
2. First school was in Corregidor
3. After the mock battle of manila, schools were
established and these schools were free and open
to everyone.
4. In 1901, the Department of Public Instruction
was established.
5. Normal schools and schools for arts and trade
were also established;
6. American teachers called “Thomasites” were
brought to the Phils and sent to the diff parts of
the country to teach Filipino children the English
language.
7. Literacy rate increased as a result
The Pencionado Program
1. It sent the Filipino students to the United States
for higher education as government scholars.
2. They return to the Phils as teachers, lawyers,
engineers and mostly civil servants in the
bureaucracy.
3. They are the most qualified persons to run the
govt
4. They met American standards of expertise
5. Most of these pencionados would become the
most loyal and friendly to the american rule.

6. They would later support american stay in the

Phils

The Position of Women

1. Women were allowed to enroll in colleges and

universities

2. Women can become teachers, doctors, lawyers etc

3. They have the opportunity to help their husbands

4. In 1935 – women were granted the right to vote

nd run for public office.