2. The Pacific and the Philippine Revolution 1896-98

Question 1

Describe some of the key events during the early stages of the Spanish American War (1898)?

Answer 1

• U.S. declares war on Spain to intervene in Cuba and to gain territory in the Pacific
• Destruction of the USS Maine = ‘yellow press’ and jingoism increases tension
• Battle of Manila Bay = U.S. destroys the Spanish fleet and captures Cavite port
• Spain thought the war was over Cuba not its territory in the Pacific

Question 2

What happened during the Philippine Revolution (1897)?

Answer 2

• Reformers (Illustradas) = Jose Rizal and Emilio Aguinaldo, radical and popular revolutionaries
• Philippine Revolution initially led by Andres Bonitiacio before he was executed by Aguinaldo
• Initial success against the Spanish army but leaders eventually surrender and go into exile (paid off by the Spanish - use money to buy weapons in Hong Kong where they plan their return)
• Revolution ended by the Pact of Biyak-na-Bato (1897)

Question 3

Describe U.S. Filipino relations during the Spanish American War.

Answer 3

• Worked with the insurgents though there was never a formal pact as the U.S. didn’t want to officially recognise the Philippines as a nation
• Allows the revolutionaries to use Manila Bay which the U.S. controlled
• Exiled insurgents, including Aguinaldo, return and more people join the insurgency

Question 4

What happened when the Filipino’s declared independence on 12 June 1898?

Answer 4

• Aguinaldo declares independence in Cavite and proclaims a provisional government with himself in charge
• U.S. more focused on capturing Manila, the capital, and the war effort in Cuba

Question 5

What happened in Hawaii and Guam during 1898?

Answer 5

• Hawaiian monarchy - Queen Lili’kokahui - independent country, didn’t belong to Spain like other U.S. acquisitions
• U.S. planters overthrow the Hawaiian monarchy, the ports are useful during the Spanish American war so the U.S. annexes Hawaii - not legally valid
• Spanish garrison in Guam - poor communications - didn’t know there was a war, are quickly defeated

Question 6

Describe the agreement between Spain and the U.S. over Manila.

Answer 6

• Troops told to avoid cooperation with the Filipinos during the capture of Manila
• Manila = low on supplies due to the destruction of the Spanish navy
• Neither Spain nor the U.S. want the Filipinos to control Manila, Spain wants to protect Spanish citizens in the capital = back room negotiations
• Spain surrenders Manila to the U.S. - staged battle in Manila to maintain Spanish dignity

Question 7

Under what conditions did the U.S. occupy Manila?

Answer 7

• Aguinaldo not invited to the peace treaty, Filipinos confused about what is happening
• “The President directs that there must be no joint occupation with the insurgents”
  Treaty of Paris (10th Dec, 1898) = Spain cedes Cuba, Philippines, Guam etc. to U.S., $20 million compensation to Spain from America
• Treaty supported by the British who had been concerned by Germany who wanted to annex the Philippines

Question 8

How are Filipino nationalists treated after the Spanish American War?

Answer 8

• Insensitivity of new U.S. occupiers irritates locals
• Filipino’s play no part in the peace treaty, alarmed by treaty, suggests U.S. may annex the whole island not just Manila
• Malolds Constitutional Convention (1899), plan a constitution for a Philippine Republic - U.S. refuses to recognise the republic

Question 9

Why was the Bacon Amendment proposed and what did it detail?

Answer 9

• Anti-war movement in the U.S. over war in the Philippines
• Racial issues, some Americans didn’t want non-whites integrated into the U.S., Filipinos seen as a backwards race
• The Bacon Amendment seeks to give promise of future independence to the Philippines
• Vote ties 29-29, Vice President votes and the Amendment is defeated