AMERICAN REGIME IN

THE PHILIPPINES
1898-1946
WHO WAS THE FIRST CHIEF JUSTICE IN
THE PHILIPPINES?
 CAYETANO ARELLANO
March 2, 1847 – December 23, 1920

The 1st Chief Justice of the Philippine Supreme Court

June 15, 1901 – April 1, 1920

Under the American Civil Government

 HISTORY
The United States government formally acquired the Philippines
from Spain with the signing of the Treaty of Paris on December 10,
1898.
1898 The United States paid Spain $20 million to annex the entire
Philippine archipelago

Start of Philippine-American War led by Emilio Aguinaldo

General Elwell Stephen Otis, Military Governor for the

1899
Philippines, issued General Order No. 20, reestablishing the
Audiencia Teritorial de Manila which was to apply Spanish laws
and jurisprudence recognized by the American military governor as
continuing in force.
 HISTORY
1901 William Howard Taft was appointed as 1st Civil Governor in the
Philippines
- Modernization of public infrastructures such as schools and
hospitals
1907 Election of the first Philippine Assembly, Sergio Osmeña elected as
the Speaker of the House.
The formation of Nationalista Party
1919 Manuel L. Quezon left Philippines for Independence Mission in
Washington
1935 Philippine Commonwealth formed after Tydings-McDuffie Act was
signed by Roosevelt.
1941 Japan attacks Philippines and Pearl harbor
GOVERNMENT DURING AMERICAN REGIME IN THE
PHILIPPINES

• Establishment of the Military Government of U.S. in the

Philippines in 1898
Military Governor – the head of the Military Government
1. Gen. Wesley Merritt – first Military Governor in the
Philippines
2. Gen. Elwell Otis
3. Gen. Douglas McArthur
 Civil Government
Established through Spooner Amendment, the end of U.S.
Military Government in the Philippines.
Civil Governor – the highest authority in the government then
later was changed to Governor-general.

William Howard Taft – the first Civil Governor-General,

followed by Luke F. Wright and then Frank Murphy.
The Philippine Civil Government Structure during American Regime

President of the United

States

U.S.
Governor-General Judicial System
Bicameral Legislature

Resident Commissioner Philippine Congress

Secretary of Finance
Speaker of the House
Secretary of Interior

Secretary of Public
Instruction Majority Floor leader
LAWS ENACTED AND PASSED BILLS UNDER AMERICAN REGIME

• Organic Act of 1916 – known as Jones Act/Philippine Autonomy Act

• Hare-Hawes-Cutting Act of 1933 - an act for Philippine Independence which
had recently been passed by the United States Congress over President Hoover's
veto.
• Tydings-McDuffie Act of 1934 – an act which granted the Philippines
independence signed by President Roosevelt. Philippine independence through
Commonwealth Government.
 COMMONWEALTH GOVERNMENT

• The government in the Philippines from 1935-1945

• To prepare Filipinos in governing their own country for but
have to wait 10 years before receiving full independence.
• Philippine Presidents during Commonwealth
1.Manuel L. Quezon
2.Sergio Osmeña
3.Manuel Roxas
 LAWS IMPLEMENTED DURING COMMONWEALTH
• The 1935 constitution, drawn up under the terms of the Tydings-McDuffie Act, which
created the Philippine Commonwealth, also served as a basis for an independent
Philippine government.
• The laws enacted by the Commonwealth Government must be approved first by the U.S.
Government

Laws Implemented:
- The National Defense Act
- Women’s suffrage act
- E.O. 134 (Filipino language)
- Minimum Wage law
- Eight hour Labor law
REFERENCES
• Owen N., (1971). Compadre Colonialism, Studies in the Philippines Under American Rule. University of Michigan Center for South and
Southeast Asian Studies. Retrieved from https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/id/61ef23f9-670e-4507-882d-
65a329303737/9780472902279.pdf

• The Spanish-American War in the Philippines and the Battle for Manila. Retrieved from
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/macarthur-spanish-american-war-philippines-and-battle-for-manila

• McMahon, J.M. (200). The American Colonization of the Philippines and the Selfexamination, Self-presentation and Re-presentation of
American Identity. Retrieved from https://academicworks.cuny.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5369&context=gc_etdshe-Philippines-
During-the-American-Period

• Reyeg et. al. American Colonozation in the Philippines.Retrieved from https://www.slideshare.net/sparklingpinktiara/philippines-during-

american-period

• Ang, J., (2014). Government During American regime. Retrieved from https://prezi.com/db3aoewdok3w/governments-during-the-
american-regime/

• The Philippines During the American Period. Retrieved from https://www.scribd.com/doc/27594134/The-Philippines-During-the-

American-Period
Group Members:
• Jamias, Cid Rick
• Cosep, Joseph Mark
• Lopez, Zeus Romar
• Sucgang, Jon Razel
• Viloria, William Jr.