3. The Philippine American War 1899-1902/3

Question 1

How did the U.S. plan to deal with Cuba and what was the Platt Amendment (1903)?

Answer 1

• Start to question how the U.S. will organise its ‘informal’ empire (unprepared)
• Aims for Cuban independence, temporary U.S. occupation after the war (1899-1903)
• U.S. racism towards new colonies
• Platt Amendment = limits Cuban independence, Article 3 gives U.S. a say in Cuban government if it would impact U.S. interests
• Cuba acts as a U.S. military area arguably up until the revolution in 1959

Question 2

How did the U.S. organise its new territories (e.g. Puerto Rico, Guam) and how was this influenced by race?

Answer 2

• Organic Act (1900), makes Puerto Rico an unincorporated territory
• The population of Puerto Rico was predominately white, Cuban population mainly black, Philippines mainly Spanish Asians = different treatment by the U.S. depending on ethnic makeup?
• Guam, U.S. Samoa etc. become naval bases under the administration of the U.S. navy

Question 3

What happened to the Philippines after the Spanish American War?

Answer 3

• “Benevolent assimilation” (President McKinley)
• No acknowledgment of the Philippine government/Republic
• U.S. give no indication about the future of the Philippines e.g. how long the occupation will last
• There’s a vague notion independence will be granted, no specific information given
• U.S. use academics to argue there are no Filipinos = separate groups of tribes and therefore incapable of self governance

Question 4

Explain the situation in Manila in the run up to the Philippine American War.

Answer 4

• Uneasy truce = U.S. in Manila, Filipino insurgents still outside the city
• Lasts 6 months until there is a scuffle between the two sides and war breaks out
• The U.S. call it the Philippine Insurgency

Question 5

Describe the casualties in Manila when war first breaks out.

Answer 5

• Heavy casualties around Manila
• 3,000 Filipino’s killed on the first day
• 60 U.S. deaths
• U.S. supported by their navy
• U.S. soon takes the capital

Question 6

Why was there growing dissension amongst the Filipino elite and why does this effect the war?

Answer 6

• The elite are the main sources of funding for Filipino troops
• ‘Mercurial temperament’ of Emilio Aguinaldo who has generals executed on trumped up charges increases tension

Question 7

How did the weather and terrain impact the war?

Answer 7

• Debilitating for U.S. troops – torrential rain, mud, steep terrain (volcanic island), few roads
• April – July = wet season

Question 8

Who took over from President McKinley when he was assassinated in 1901?

Answer 8

• 14th September 1901

- Theodore Roosevelt, his Vice President, takes over and is reelected 1904

Question 9

Explain the progression of the Philippine American War during 1901.

Answer 9

• Filipinos start to defect, U.S. successfully attract the Filipino elite which impacts funding
• War effort difficult - booby traps, breaks in U.S. communications, spies, supply lines, Filipino’s kill anyone who cooperates with the U.S. - similar to Vietnam and Iraq
• Capture of Emilio Aguinaldo who surrenders but independent leaders in the field keep fighting

Question 10

What did the Bandolerismo Statute in November 1902 entail?

Answer 10

• Roosevelt declares the war is over
• The Bandolerismo Statute declares that anyone still in arms and in a group of 3 or more is a bandit and will be executed, no longer the Republic Army
• What is a bandit/terrorist? Anyone fighting you must be a bandit?

Question 11

What triggered the Moro Wars (1899-1913)?

Answer 11

• Moro tribes in the South of the Philippines – largely Islamic
• Spain never controlled the region but when U.S. takes over the Philippines they try to enter the area regardless
• The Moro call it a U.S. invasion and a 14 year war begins

Question 12

What was the outcome of the Philippine American War?

Answer 12

• $400 million dollar war – bought for $20 million ($4 billion in modern terms)
• No prisoners? Unofficial U.S. policy
• Racist attitudes
• Every 15 Filipino soldiers killed, 1 was wounded = usually you had more wounded than dead
• Concentration camps, torture
• Brigadier-General Jacob Smith = “I want no prisoners”
• Filipino atrocities against U.S. troops also committed

Question 13

How did U.S. Philippine relations progress during the 20th Century?

Answer 13

• 1935, Commonwealth = self-autonomy, U.S. controls military and foreign affairs
• 1937, U.S. allows the formation of the Philippine National Assembly compromised of the Filipino elite who cooperate with America
• 1946, Philippine Independence Day, now Philippine-American Friendship Day