NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Philippine American War

The Philippine-American War was a war between the armed forces of the United States and the Philippines from 1899 through 1913. List of major battles Battle of Bataan Battle of Mactan Battle of Corregidor Battle of Pulang Lupa Balangiga Massacre The Battle of Mactan The Battle of Mactan on April 21, 1521 was the first reported resistance of the natives in the Philippines against foreign invaders. ... The Military history of the United States spans a period of less than two and a half centuries. ... This is a list of battles of the Philippine-American War. ... The Philippine Constabulary (PC) was the national police force of the Philippines and was organized in 1901 by the United States appointed administrative authority. ... War is a state of widespread conflict between states, organisations, or relatively large groups of people, which is characterised by the use of violent, physical force between combatants or upon civilians. ... 1899 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... 1913 is a common year starting on Wednesday. ...

This conflict is also known as the Philippine Insurrection. This name was historically the most commonly used in the U.S., but Filipinos and an increasing number of American historians refer to these hostilities as the Philippine-American War, and in 1999 the U.S. Library of Congress reclassified its references to use this term. 1999 is a common year starting on Friday of the Common Era, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... Library of Congress, Jefferson building The Library of Congress is the unofficial national library of the United States. ...

Origins of the War

In December 1898, the U.S. purchased the Philippines and other territories from Spain at the Treaty of Paris for the sum of 20 million United States dollars, after the U.S. defeated Spain in the Spanish-American War. The U.S. government made plans to make the Philippines an American colony. However, the Filipinos, fighting for their independence from Spain since 1896, had already declared their independence on June 12. On August 14, 11,000 ground troops were sent to occupy the Philippines. On January 1, 1899, Emilio Aguinaldo was declared the first President. He later organized a Congress at Malolos, Bulacan to draft a constitution. December is the twelfth and last month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... 1898 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... The Treaty of Paris of 1898, signed on December 10, 1898, ended the Spanish-American War. ... The United States dollar is the official currency of the United States. ... The Spanish-American War took place in 1898, and resulted in the United States of America gaining control over the former colonies of Spain in the Caribbean and Pacific. ... 1896 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... June 12 is the 163rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (164th in leap years), with 202 days remaining. ... August 14 is the 226th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (227th in leap years), with 139 days remaining. ... January 1 is the first day of the calendar year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. ... 1899 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Emilio Aguinaldo Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy (March 22, 1869—February 6, 1964) was a Filipino general, politician, and independence leader. ... The President is the head of state and of the government of the Republic of the Philippines. ... Malolos (Pop. ... Bulacan is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. ...

Spanish-American War photo, Manila, 1899 This photo was taken in 1899, I believe in Manila, Philippines of United States troops serving in the Spanish-American War. ... Spanish-American War photo, Manila, 1899 This photo was taken in 1899, I believe in Manila, Philippines of United States troops serving in the Spanish-American War. ...

The start of the War

Tensions between the Filipinos and the American soldiers on the islands existed because of the conflicting movements for independence and colonization, aggravated by the feelings of betrayal on the part of the Filipinos by their former allies, the Americans. Hostilities started on February 4, 1899 when an American soldier named William Grayson shot a Filipino soldier who was crossing a bridge into American-occupied territory in San Juan del Monte, an incident historians now consider to be the start of the war. U.S. President William McKinley later told reporters "that the insurgents had attacked Manila" in justifying war on the Philippines. The Battle of Manila (1899) that followed caused thousands of casualties for Filipinos and Americans alike. February 4 is the 35th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1899 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Seal of the President of the United States The President of the United States is the head of state of the United States. ... William McKinley (January 29, 1843 â€“ September 14, 1901) was the 25th President of the United States, from 1897 until his assassination in 1901. ... Manila (Maynila in Filipino) is the capital city of the Philippines. ... The Battle of Manila was fought on February 4th and February 5th 1899 during the Philippine American War, between 12,000 Americans and 15,000 Filipinos. ...

Note: Recent evidence from the National Historial institute of the Philippines say that the Filipino soldier shot by the (said drunk) American soldiers is not in San Juan del Monte, but in present-day Sociego Street in Manila. The National Historical Institute put a marker there.

The administration of US President McKinley subsequently declared Aguinaldo to be an "outlaw bandit", and no formal declaration of war was ever issued. Two reasons have been given for this. One is that calling the war the Philippine Insurrection made it appear to be a rebellion against a lawful government, although the only part of the Philippines under American control was Manila. The other was to enable the American government to avoid liability to claims by veterans of the action. A Declaration of War is a formal declaration issued by a national government indicating that a state of war exists between that nation, and one or more others. ... Manila (Maynila in Filipino) is the capital city of the Philippines. ... A veteran refers to a person who is experienced in a particular area, particularly referring to people in the armed forces. ...

American Escalation

A large American military force (126,000 soldiers) was needed to occupy the country, and would be regularly engaged in war against Filipino forces for another decade. Also, Macabebe Filipinos were recruited by the United States Army. Spanish-American War photo, Manila, 1899 This photo was taken in 1899, I believe in Manila, Philippines of United States troops serving in the Spanish-American War. ... Spanish-American War photo, Manila, 1899 This photo was taken in 1899, I believe in Manila, Philippines of United States troops serving in the Spanish-American War. ... The Army is the branch of the United States armed forces which has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. ...

By the end of February, the Americans had prevailed in the struggle for Manila, and the Philippine Army of Liberation was forced to retreat north. Hard-fought American victories followed at Quingua (April), Zapote Bridge (June), and Tirad Pass (December). With the June assassination of General Antonio Luna and the death of Brigadier General Gregorio del Pilar at Tirad Pass, the Filipinos' ability to fight a conventional war was rapidly diminishing. As of 1900, therefore, Aguinaldo ordered his army to engage in guerilla warfare, a means of operation which better suited them and made American occupation of the archipelago all the more difficult over the next few years. Subsequent American defeats at Pulang Lupa, Mabitac, and Balangiga were not, however, sufficient to turn the tide of the struggle. Battle of Quingua Conflict Philippine-American War Date April 23, 1899 Place Luzon, Philippines Result U.S. victory The Battle of Quingua was fought on April 23, 1899 in Quingua, Philippines during the Philippine-American War. ... Battle of Zapote Bridge Conflict Philippine-American War Date June 13, 1899 Place Luzon, Philippines Result decisive U.S. victory The Battle of Zapote Bridge also known as the Battle of Zapote River was fought on June 13, 1899 between 3,000 American soldiers and 5,000 Filipinos. ... The Battle of Tirad Pass, sometimes referred to as the Philippine Thermopalye was a battle in the Philippine-American War fought on December 2, 1899 in northern Luzon in the Philippines, when a 60-man Filipino rearguard commanded by Brigadier General Gregorio del Pilar eventually succumbed to 500 Americans of... Gregorio del Pilar was one of the youngest generals in the Philippine-American War. ... The Battle of Tirad Pass, sometimes referred to as the Philippine Thermopalye was a battle in the Philippine-American War fought on December 2, 1899 in northern Luzon in the Philippines, when a 60-man Filipino rearguard commanded by Brigadier General Gregorio del Pilar eventually succumbed to 500 Americans of... 1900 is a common year starting on Monday. ... Guerrilla (also called a partisan) is a term borrowed from Spanish (from guerra meaning war) used to describe small combat groups. ... An archipelago is a landform which consists of a chain or cluster of islands. ... The Battle of Pulang Lupa was an engagement in the Philippine-American War, when on September 13, 1900, a Filipino force of resistance fighters and guerillas under Colonel Maximo Abad annihilated a detachment of the 29th U.S. Infantry under the command of Captain Devereux Shields. ... The Battle of Mabitac was an engagement in the Philippine-American War, when on September 17, 1900, Filipinos under General Juan Cailles defeated an American force commanded by Colonel Benjamin F. Cheatham. ... Balangiga is a municipality in the province of Eastern Samar in the Philippines. ...

In March 1901, Aguinaldo was captured by the Macabebe Scouts, under the command of Brigadier General Frederick Funston in Palanan, Isabela. On July 4, 1902 President Theodore Roosevelt declared the war was over. The Americans gradually succeeded in taking control of urban and coastal areas by the end of 1903. In 1907, Macario Sacay, one of the last remaining Filipino generals fighting against the Americans, was captured and hanged. 1901 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Brig. ... Palanan is a remote municipality in the province of Isabela in the Philippines. ... This is about the province of Isabela in the Philippines. ... July 4 is the 185th day of the year (186th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 180 days remaining. ... 1902 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Seal of the President of the United States The President of the United States is the head of state of the United States. ... Order: 26th President Vice President: Charles Warren Fairbanks Term of office: September 14, 1901 â€“ March 3, 1909 Preceded by: William McKinley Succeeded by: William Howard Taft Date of birth: October 27, 1858 Place of birth: New York City Date of death: January 6, 1919 Place of death: Oyster Bay, New... 1903 has the latest occurring solstices and equinoxes for 400 years, because the Gregorian calendar hasnt had a leap year for seven years or a century leap year since 1600. ... 1907 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Macario Sacay y de León (or Macario Sakay) was a Filipino general in the Philippine-American War who continued the resistance against American imperial rule in his country. ...

While some measures to allow partial self-government were implemented earlier, the guerrilla war did not subside until 1913 when US President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed a change in policy that would, after a transitional period, grant the Philippines full independence. In the south, Muslim Filipinos resisted until 1916—the so-called Moro rebellion. The fierceness of the resistance forced the American development and deployment of the Colt .45 pistol, which had a large enough caliber round to knock back a charging enemy. 1913 is a common year starting on Wednesday. ... Dr. Thomas Woodrow Wilson (December 28, 1856 – February 3, 1924) was the 45th state Governor of New Jersey (1911-1913) and later the 28th President of the United States (1913-1921). ... A Muslim is a believer in or follower of Islam. ... 1916 is a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar) Events January-February January 1 -The first successful blood transfusion using blood that had been stored and cooled. ... The Moro Rebellion was the second phase of the Philippine-American War, following the so-called Philippine Insurrection phase. ... Mid 1945 produced US.M1911A1 US Army Colt by Remington Rand. ...

Americans who were opposed to the war

Some Americans, notably William Jennings Bryan, Mark Twain, Andrew Carnegie, and other members of the American Anti-Imperialist League, strongly objected to the annexation of the Philippines. Other Americans mistakenly thought that the Philippines wanted to become part of the United States. Anti-imperialist movements claimed that the United States had betrayed its lofty goals of the Spanish-American War by becoming a colonial power, merely replacing Spain in the Philippines. As news of atrocities committed in subduing the Philippines arrived in the United States, support for the war flagged. William Jennings Bryan, 1907 William Jennings Bryan, (March 19, 1860 – July 26, 1925) born in Salem, Illinois, was a gifted orator and three-time United States Democratic nominee for President. ... Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30, 1835 – April 21, 1910), better known by his pen name Mark Twain, was a famous and popular American humorist, writer and lecturer. ... Andrew Carnegie (November 25, 1835–August 11, 1919) was a Scottish-American businessman and major philanthropist. ... The American Anti-Imperialist League was formed on June 15, 1898 to fight U.S. annexation of the Philippines and other U.S. insular areas on economic, legal, moral, and even racial grounds. ... The Spanish-American War took place in 1898, and resulted in the United States of America gaining control over the former colonies of Spain in the Caribbean and Pacific. ...

Consequences

During the war, 4,324 American soldiers were killed and 2,818 were wounded. There were also 2,000 casualties that the Philippine Constabulary suffered during the war, over a thousand of which were fatalities. Philippine military deaths are estimated at 20,000 (16 thousand actually counted) while civilian deaths numbered in 250,000 to 1,000,000 Filipinos. The high casualty figures are due mostly to the combination of superior arms and even more superior numbers of the Americans. They had the most modern and up-to-date weapons in the world, and had also gained much battlefield experience in the Civil War and other military conflicts. With the most superb bolt action rifles and machine guns they were also lavishly armed and well led. Even better were the U.S. warships at the ready to fire their big guns and decimate Philippine positions when needed. In contrast the Filipinos were armed with motley rifles, a number of which were taken from dead Spanish or American soldiers, or smuggled in by Philippine patriots. Their artillery was not much better, mostly worn out artillery pieces captured from the Spanish. Although they did have a few Maxim and Gatling machine guns, along with a few modern Krupp artillery pieces, these were highly prized and taken to the rear for fear of capture before they could play any decisive role. Ammunition along with rifles also became scarce as the war dragged on, and they had to manufacture their own, like the homemade paltik. Still most did not even have firearms. Many used bolos, spears, and lances in fighting, which also contributed to high casualty figures. Despite these disadvantages, they managed to win some small battlefield encounters, but these only delayed their inevitable defeat. The Philippine Constabulary (PC) was the national police force of the Philippines and was organized in 1901 by the United States appointed administrative authority. ... The American Civil War was fought in the United States from 1861 until 1865 between the United States – forces coming mostly from the 23 northern states of the Union – and the newly-formed Confederate States of America, which consisted of 11 southern states that had declared their secession. ... List of United States military conflicts This is a list of militarized conflicts involving the United States, the dates show the years in which U.S. military units (primarily regular, occasionally irregular) participated. ... Maxim may refer to: Hiram Maxim, inventor and firearm designer Maxim machine gun Joey Maxim, boxer, world light heavyweight champion Maxim, a mens magazine A maxim, a wise saying similar to an aphorism Maxim IC, manufacturer of analog and mixed signal integrated circuits Maxim Institute, a conservative think tank... Gatling gun illustrated in an 1885 encyclopedia in Swedish The Gatling gun was the first successful machine gun. ... The Krupp family is a prominent 400-year-old German family from Essen, famous for their steel production and manufacture of ammunition and armaments. ... Paltik in Filipino means homemade gun. It originated late in the Philippine American War when guns and ammunition had become scarce. ... Bolo can be, in historical order: A Bolo knife, a machete used for agricultural purposes and as a weapon. ...

In 1908, Manuel Arellano Remondo, in a book entitled General Geography of the Philippine Islands, wrote: "The population decreased due to the wars, in the five-year period from 1895 to 1900, since, at the start of the first insurrection, the population was estimated at 9,000,000, and at present (1908), the inhabitants of the Archipelago do not exceed 8,000,000 in number." 1908 is a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

U.S. attacks into the countryside often included scorched earth campaigns where entire villages were burned and destroyed, torture (water cure) and the concentration of civilians into "protected zones". Many of these civilian casualties resulted from disease and famine. Reports of the execution of U.S. soldiers taken prisoner by the Filipinos led to disproportionate reprisals by American forces. Many American officers and soldiers called war a "nigger killing business". During the U.S. occupation, English was declared the official language, although the languages of the Philippine people were Spanish, Visayan, Tagalog, Ilocano and other native languages. Six hundred American teachers were imported aboard the USS Thomas. Also, the Catholic Church was disestablished, and a considerable amount of church land was purchased and redistributed. Categories: Stub | Torture ... The word nigger is a highly controversial term used in many English-speaking countries, including the United States, Canada, Britain, and Australia to refer to individuals with dark skin, especially those of African descent who previously were racially classified by the now outdated term Negro. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... The Visayan languages of the Philippines, along with Tagalog and Bikol, are part of the Central Philippine language family. ... Tagálog is one of the major languages of the Republic of the Philippines. ... Ilocano, also Iloko and Ilokano, refers to the language and culture associated with the Ilocano people, the third largest ethnic group in the Philippines. ... Two ships in the United States Navy have been named USS Thomas, for Clarence Crase Thomas. ... The Roman Catholic Church believes its founding was based on Jesus appointment of Saint Peter as the primary church leader, later Bishop of Rome. ...

In 1914, Dean C. Worcester, U.S. Secretary of the Interior for the Philippines (1901-1913) described "the regime of civilization and improvement which started with American occupation and resulted in developing naked savages into cultivated and educated men." 1914 is a common year starting on Thursday. ...

In recognition of United States military service, during the Philippine-American War, the United States military created two service decorations which were known as the Philippine Campaign Medal and the Philippine Congressional Medal. The armed forces of the United States of America consist of the United States Army United States Navy United States Air Force United States Marine Corps United States Coast Guard Note: The United States Coast Guard has both military and law enforcement functions. ... Army and Navy versions of the Philippine Campaign Medal The Philippine Campaign Medal is a military decoration of the United States Armed Forces which was created to denote service of U.S. military members in the Philippine-American War between the years of 1898 and 1913. ... Philippine Congressional Medal The Philippine Congressional Medal was a decoration of the United States Army which was established by the United States Congress on July 9, 1906. ...

Also granted the medal of heroism in the Battle of Manila (1899) for his efforts to contain the riots during the Ilocano regional badminton championships was Emilio Pagkalinwanggan, son of Hermano Balangatang.

Encyclopedia > Philippine American War

Contents

Origins of the War

The start of the War

American Escalation

Americans who were opposed to the war

Consequences

See also