Lesson 5.

The American Colonial

Government in the
Philippines

Philippine Politics and Governance

General Academic Strand | Humanities and Social Sciences
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How did we
come to have
the form of
government we
have right now?

3
 Learning ● Relate the evolution of Philippine politics and
Competencies
governance (HUMSS_PG12-If-g-19).

● Describe the different stages in the evolution

of the Philippine politics and governance
(HUMSS_PG12-If-g-20).

● Analyze the evolution of Philippine politics

and governance (HUMSS_PG12-If-g-21).

4
Learning ● Explain the history and legacy of the
Objectives
American colonial government in the
Philippines.

● Explain the structure of the government

during this period.

● Analyze the development of Philippine

politics and governance.

5
 Ten Thousand Miles from Tip to Tip
Explore
1. Examine the political cartoon entitled Ten Thousand
Miles from Tip to Tip attributed to Philadelphia Press
found on the next slide. How would you interpret the
political cartoon?
2. Find a pair and share your answers with your partner.
3. Share your ideas with at least two other pairs in class.

6
Explore

7
 On your own, write three ideas you have about this political cartoon.
1.
Explore Think 2.
3.

Discuss your ideas with a partner. Identify the similarities and

differences between your ideas.
Pair

Share your ideas with other pairs in class. List down your insights from
the ideas of other pairs.
Share 1.
2.
3.
8
Essential
Question

How did the Americans influence the transition

of the Philippines from colonial rule to self-
governance?

9
 Transition from Spanish Colonial Rule

● The Philippines gained independence from Spain in 1898.

● American colonial rule began at the end of the Philippine-
American War in 1901.
● It is important to examine the motives of the Americans in
keeping the Philippines under its power:
○ first taste of colonial authority for the United States
○ the policy of benevolent assimilation

10
 Transition from Spanish Colonial Rule
Philippine Commissions

President William McKinley sent two Philippine Commissions to

investigate the situation in the Philippines.

● The Schurman Commission recommended a civil

government with a bicameral legislature.

● The Taft Commission served as a civil government with

limited executive and legislative powers.

11
 Transition from Spanish Colonial Rule
Civil Government

The Taft Commission served as the civil government. It was

inaugurated on July 4, 1901, and William Howard Taft was
declared the first civil governor.

● Taft trained Filipinos in self-governance.

● Taft included pro-American Filipinos as new members of the

commission—namely: Trinidad H. Pardo de Tavera, Benito
Legarda, and Jose de Luzuriaga.
12
 Transition from Spanish Colonial Rule
Civil Government

● Taft became popular among the

Filipinos because of his “the
Philippines for the Filipinos”
policy.
○ It was about ensuring that
legislation was made with the
welfare of the Filipinos as
primary consideration.
13
 Transition from Spanish Colonial Rule
Philippine Organic Act of 1902

Also known as the Cooper Act of 1902, it extended the US Bill

of Rights to Filipinos.

● appointment of two non-voting Filipino resident

commissioners to represent Philippines in the US Congress

● establishment of Philippine Assembly

● establishment of several executive departments

14
Check Your
Progress

What are the significant legacies of the

Philippine Organic Act of 1902?

15
 Philippine Assembly

● The Philippine
Assembly became the
Lower House of the
legislature. The
Philippine Commission
was the Upper House.
● First free national
elections were held on William Howard Taft addresses the members of the First
Philippine Assembly.
July 30, 1907.
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 Philippine Assembly

Apart from the Philippine Assembly, the following notable

Filipinos also occupied other positions in government:

Cayetano Arellano Florentino Torres Gregorio Araneta

Chief Justice Attorney General Secretary of Finance
and Justice
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Check Your
Progress

How instrumental was the establishment of

the Philippine Assembly in attaining the
independence the Americans had promised?

18
 The Commonwealth Government
Jones Law of 1916

Independence would be granted unto the Philippines when a

stable government had been established.

● executive branch: American governor-general

● bicameral legislature: exclusive to Filipinos
● judicial branch: Filipino chief justice with a combination of
Filipinos and Americans as associate justices

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 The Commonwealth Government
Jones Law of 1916
The elections for the new legislative branch was held on
October 3, 1916.

Sergio Osmeña Manuel Quezon

Speaker of the House Senate President
of Representatives

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 The Commonwealth Government
Jones Law of 1916

A bill of rights for Filipinos was established. This included the

following:

● freedom of speech
● freedom of the press
● freedom from illegal search
● the right to assemble

21
Check Your
Progress

How similar is the structure of government

during the American colonial rule to the
present-day structure?

22
 The Commonwealth Government
Independence Missions

Twelve independence missions

were sent to the US Congress to
campaign for the recognition of
Philippine independence.
● Hare-Hawes-Cutting Act
through the OsRox mission
● Tydings-McDuffie Act The 1935 Constitution is considered a by-

through Quezon’s product of the Tydings-McDuffie Act.

independence mission 23
 The Commonwealth Government

Transitional Government

The 1935 Constitution is the legal basis

of the transitional Commonwealth
period.
● Article 17 Section 1 clearly defined the
duration of the transition period.
● The first national election under the
1935 Constitution was held on
Manuel Quezon was inaugurated
September 17, 1935.
as president in 1935.
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Check Your
Progress

What were the difficulties faced by Filipinos in

achieving full independence from the United
States?

25
 Identify if the statement is correct or incorrect.
Try This!

1. General Wood and Governor-General

Forbes reported that Filipinos were
already prepared for self-governance.

26
 Identify if the statement is correct or incorrect.
Try This!

2. The Philippine Organic Act of 1902

provided that independence would be
granted when a stable government had
been established.

27
 Identify if the statement is correct or incorrect.
Try This!

3. The three branches of government

established in the Philippines during the
American colonial period were identical to
the three branches of government of the
United States.

28
 Identify if the statement is correct or incorrect.
Try This!

4. The policy of benevolent assimilation

justified American influence over Filipinos’
path to self-governance.

29
 Identify if the statement is correct or incorrect.
Try This!

5. The Commonwealth government was in

full operation in the Philippines even
during the Japanese occupation.

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 ● After the Spanish-American War, the Americans put
Wrap- the Philippines under military control. This marked
Up
the beginning of the American occupation.

● The Taft Commission implemented the transition

from military to civil government. The objective of
the civil government was to train and prepare
Filipinos for self-governance.

31
 ● The Philippine Organic Act of 1902 extended the
Wrap- The Philippine Organic Act of 1902 extended the US
Up
Bill of Rights to the Filipinos and increased the
participation of Filipinos in government affairs
through the creation of the Philippine Assembly.

● After several independence missions to the United

States, the Tydings-McDuffie Act was passed
through the leadership of Manuel Quezon. This
provided the establishment of a commonwealth
government, after which full independence was to
be given to the Philippines. 32
 ● During the American colonial period, other relevant
Wrap- legislation included the Jones Law of 1916 and the
Up
Hare-Hawes-Cutting Act. The latter was a product
of the OsRox Mission led by Sergio Osmeña and
Manuel Roxas and was the precursor of the Tydings-
McDuffie Act.

● The Philippines' Commonwealth government and

eventual independence were put on hold when the
Japanese invaded the country in the early years of
the Second World War.
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Challenge
Yourself
How does the government structure during the
American colonial government reflect the
present-day government structure of the
Philippines?

34
 Bibliography

Agoncillo, Teodoro A. History of the Filipino People. 8th ed. Quezon City: Garotech Publishing, 1990.

Barrows, David P. A History of the Philippines. Manila: American Book Company, 1905.

Constantino, Renato. The Philippines: A Past Revisited. Quezon City: Tala Pub. Services, 1975.

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