Under American Rule and the Commonwealth of the Philippines
The US replaced Spanish rule with the institutions of a modern state. It was also the intention of the US to prepare Filipinos for self-governance. Manuel Quezon pushed for independence through politics rather than armed revolution. Through Quezon, the Commonwealth of the Philippines was established. This granted the Philippines a large amount of autonomy but at the same time, the US retained some control over the country (as the case was with Philippine foreign affairs).
Under American Rule
September 1900 - August 1902: The Taft Commission replaces over three centuries of Spanish rule with the laws and institutions of a modern civil state. A code of law, a judicial system and elective municipal and provincial governments are established. The Philippine Organic Act of 1902 extends the protections of the United States Bill of Rights to Filipinos and establishes a national bi-cameral legislature. The lower house is the popularly elected Philippine Assembly and the upper house is the Philippine Commission appointed directly by the president of the US.
July 18, 1901: The Philippine Constabulary is established.
September 28, 1901: In Balanggiga, as a consequence of the inappropriate behaviour of US soldiers towards Filipinos, around 200 Warays armed with bolos attack the American garrison. The Americans are attacked during breakfast and are generally unarmed. Only 2 US soldiers escape unharmed while 22 are wounded and 48 killed.
October 23, 1901: A unit of US marines arrive in Balanggiga after General Jacob "howling" Smith gives orders to turn the island of Samar into a "howling wilderness" and US soldiers are ordered to kill all Filipino natives over the age of 10 or 11 years. Around ten thousand Filipinos are slaughtered causing public outcry in the US. General Smith is eventually court marshalled and forced into retirement.
November 4, 1901: The Philippine Commission enacts the Sedition Law. This means the death penalty or a long prison sentence for anyone who tries to establish the Philippines as independent or separate from the US.
1902: Macario Sakay, a captured member of the Katipunan, is released as a general amnesty. Sakay and a group of other Katipuneros form the Republika ng Katagalugan or Tagalog Republic in the mountains of Southern Luzon. Sakay becomes president and commander-in-chief of the Republika ng Katagalugan; a continuation of the Katipunan and a continuation of the struggle for independence from the US.
March 30, 1902: The unit of US marines depart from Balanggiga.
July 1, 1902: The Cooper Act is passed in the US Senate. A bicameral legislature is established with the Philippine Assembly as the lower chamber and the Philippine Commission as the upper chamber.
1904: Following American practice, the Philippine Organic Act imposes the strict separation of church and state and eliminates the Roman Catholic Church as the official state religion. The administration pays the Vatican US$7.2 million for most of the lands held by the religious orders. The lands are later sold back to Filipinos. Some tenants are able to buy their land but it is mainly the established estate owners who can afford to buy the former church lands.
The Tagalog Republic
April 1904: Macario Sakay issues a manifesto stating that Filipinos had a right to fight for Philippine independence. US propaganda brands Sakay as a mere bandit. The Republika ng Katagalugan has an established government, a constitution and a flag which resembles the Katipunan flags. Although called Tagalog Republic, it includes all of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
Late 1904: Macario Sakay and his revolutionaries take to the offensive. They succeed in seizing ammunition and firearms. In Philippine Constabulary uniforms, they capture a military garrison in Parañaque. Sakay uses guerrilla warfare at night to take American forces by surprise. Sakay and his Republika ng Katagalugan have the support of the common masses. Lower class Filipinos in the Batangas, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal provinces contribute food, money, other supplies and information. The American forces begins reconcentration in the towns Taal, Tanauan, Santo Tomas, and Nasugbu where Sakay's support is strongest. Many Filipinos die in the reconcentration as the result of disease and lack of food. This cruel tactic begins to weaken Sakay's republic.
1905: Governor-General Henry Ide sends Dominador Gomez to speak with Sakay. Sakay is presented with a letter from Ide that if he surrenders, he and his men will not be punished. Gomez assures Sakay that a Philippine Assembly comprising of Filipinos is to be formed.
July 14, 1906: Macario Sakay and his men surrender and go to Manila and are followed by a brass band and hundreds of Filipino supporters from the local towns.
July 17, 1906: Macario Sakay and his men are betrayed by the Americans. They are disarmed and imprisoned. Sakay is tried and convicted. Dominador Gomez does not attend the trial and the letter from Governor-General Henry Ide has vanished.
Preparation for a Republic of the Philippines
June 30, 1907: The first elections to the Philippine Assembly are held.
September 13, 1907: Macario Sakay is hanged.
October 16, 1907: The first session of the Philippine Assembly is opened. The Nacionalista Party of Manuel Quezon and Sergio Osmeña win the election.
June 18, 1908: The University of the Philippines is established.
October 3, 1913: Free trade relations between the Philippines and the US are established.
August 29, 1916: Under the Jones Act, an elected Philippine Senate replaces the appointed Philippine Commission as the upper chamber of the legislature and the Philippine Assembly is renamed the House of Representatives. As before, the governor-general who is responsible for the executive branch, is appointed by the president of the US.
January 11, 1917: The first cabinet comprised of Filipinos is organised.
November 7, 1930: The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) is founded by Crisanto Evangelista.
October 26, 1932: The Supreme Court with 5 out of 9 judges being American, declares the Communist Party of the Philippines to be illegal.
December 7, 1933: The last American governor to the Philippines, Governor Frank Murphy, grants the Right of Suffrage to Filipino women.
The Commonwealth of the Philippines
March 24, 1934: The Tydings-McDuffie Act establishes the Commonwealth of the Philippines and sets July 4, 1946, as the date for full Philippine independence.
July 10, 1934: 202 delegates are elected to the Constitutional Convention.
July 30, 1934: The Constitutional Convention is inaugurated with Claro M. Recto as president.
February 8, 1935: The Constitutional Convention approves the Constitution by a vote of 177 - 1.
February 15, 1935: The Constitution is signed.
March 23, 1935: The Constitution is approved by US President Franklin Roosevelt.
May 2, 1935: The establishment of a commonwealth government is opposed by the Sakdalistas, a radical peasant group in Manila and nearby provinces.
May 14, 1935: A plebiscite on the constitution for the new Republic is approved.
September 17, 1935: The elections for Commonwealth president and vice-president are held.
November 15, 1935: Manuel Quezon is inaugurated as president of the Commonwealth government while Sergio Osmeña is inaugurated as the vice-president.
September 1, 1939: Germany invades Poland. World War II begins in Europe.
July 26, 1941: General Douglas MacArthur brings together 12,000 Philippine Scouts and 16,000 American soldiers to create a defence force in preparation of war. However, the defence force is inadequate to prevent a Japanese invasion.
November 11, 1941: Manuel Quezon and Sergio Osmeña are re-elected to their respective posts.
