The Establishment of

American Civil
Government
So United States really intended to occupy
the Philippines but not for long.

But they wanted to govern the country with
much regard for the interest and welfare of
the Filipinos.

In fact, their plan was to set up civil
government immediately.

MILITARY GOVERNMENT
established on August 14, 1898
First Military Governor General Wesley
Meritt
- powers: Army, War and State
Military Governors:
1. Gen. Wesley Meritt
2. Gen. Elwell S. Otis
3. Gen. Arthur McArthur
MILITARY GOVERNMENT
Pacified the country
Laid the foundations for the establishment
of the civil government

MILITARY GOVERNMENT
Introduced the American school system
with soldiers as teachers
Local governments were established
Organized civil courts such as the
Supreme Court
Cayetano Arellano first chief justice
First election under American flag
by Gen. Henry W. Lawton in Baliuag, Bulacan,
on May 7, 1899
SCHURMAN COMMISSION
First Philippine Commission January 20,
1899
Headed by Dr. Jacob G. Schurman

To study the Philippine situation and make
recommendations for the creation of an
American colonial administration
Recommendations:
1. Withdrawal of Military rule; replaced with
civil government as soon as possible
2. Creation of bicameral legislature
3. Establishment of autonomous local
government
4. A system of free public elementary
schools
5. Conservation of natural resources
6. Appointment of highly capable men for
office
TAFT COMMISSION
Second Philippine Commission March
16, 1900
Headed by Judge William H. Taft
Much more successful than the last
commission

This commission has now power to write
laws.
TAFT COMMISSION
Judicial system was established
- including the Supreme Court
Civil Service System for maintenance of
an efficient and honest civil service in the
country
First law: Php. 2,000,000 for construction
and repair of roads and bridges in the
Philippines
From September 1900 to August 1902, it
enacted total of 499 laws
SPOONER AMENDMENT
A congressional amendment to the Army
Appropriations Act of 1901 that called for
the end of the U.S. military government
in the Philippines
By Senator John Coit Spooner
March 2, 1901
CIVIL GOVERNMENT
Inaugurated in July 4, 1901
Judge William H. Taft as the First Civil
Governor or the First American Governor-
General in the Philippines
Philippines for the Filipinos
Composed of civilians rather than soldiers
Banishment of the Patriots
Filipinos were divided as regards
resistance or peace.
Some would side with America. Some
would resist.
Americans decided to banish Filipino
leaders who refused to collaborate with
them.
Apolinario Mabini, Artemio Ricarte, Gen.
Pio del Pilar and many more were exiled
to Guam.
Sedition Law
Enacted in 1901.
Any forms of aggressive or passive
resistance to the American rule in the
Philippines are forbidden.
The scope of the law was not just limited
to the following: speech, play, publications
etc.
Any violation of this law will be punished
with either exile or death.

Brigandage Act
Enacted in 1902.
It was enacted with the help of the
Philippine Commission.
A law forbidding Filipinos to establish a
nationalist movement.
Any form of resistance against the
Americans will be branded as a bandit or
traitor.

Flag Law
Enacted in 1907
This law forbids the display of the
Philippine Flag.
In response, Gregorio Aglipay had a habit
sewn in the design of the Philippine Flag.

Tafts Administration
Philippines for the Filipinos
The sale of huge tracts of friar lands to
Filipinos on installment terms; 410,000
hectares
English was declared the official language
600 American teachers boarded USS
Thomas
First official census March 2, 1903
Cooper Act/Philippine Organic Act of 1902
July 1, 1902

The Philippine Bill of 1902
U.S Congress passed a law known as
Cooper Law.
guarantees Filipinos the right of free
speech, free press, and freedom to
petition for the redress of grievances
Philippine Bill of 1902
1. a bill of rights for the Filipinos;

2. the appointment of two Filipino resident commissioners
to represent the Philippines in the United States
Congress but without voting rights;

3. the establishment of a Philippine Assembly to be elected
by the Filipinos two years after the publication of a
census and only after peace had been completely
restored in the country.

4. retention of the Philippine Commission as the upper
house of the legislature, with the Philippine assembly
acting as a lower house.

5. the conservation of the natural resources of the
Philippines for the Filipinos.
The Census of 1903
March 2, 1903 was declared as Census
Day. The first scientific census ever to be
taken in the Philippines.
It showed that the population of the
Philippines as March 2, 1903 was
7,635,426.
Political Parties
Trinidad H. Pardo de Tavera founded the
Federal Party whose platform was based
on the annexation of the Philippines as
one of the states of United States of
America.
Partido Nacionalista to work for
immediate independence
Partido Nacional Progresista to work for
independence in due time
The Election of 1907
The Filipinos could elect delegates to the
Philippine Assembly two years after peace
and order had been proclaimed in the
country.
In the election of July 30, 1907, the people
give their verdict: they were in favor of
immediate independence.
Nacionalista vs Progresista
The First Philippine Assembly
The Philippine Assembly which was to
become the Lower House of the
Legislative body of the country, and the
Philippine Commission being the Upper
House, was inaugurated in the Old Opera
House at Rizal Ave. on Oct.16,1907
Sergio Osmena House of
Representatives
Manuel L. Quezon President Senate
Pensionado Program
1903, sent Filipino students to the
students to the United States for higher
education as government scholars.
After 4 yrs, they returned in the Phils as
teachers, lawyers, engineers, and mostly
civil servants in the bureaucracy.
The Resident Commissioners
The first resident commissioners were
Pablo Ocampo (1907-1909) and Benito
Legarda (1907-1912).
These commissioners worked for laws that
were beneficial for the Philippines.
The Public School System
In 1901, the Department of Public
Instruction was established.
At the same time, normal schools and
schools of arts and trade were also
established.
American teachers called Thomasites
and teach Filipino children the English
Language.
The Position of Women
Now allowed to enroll in colleges and
universities.
Thus, women studied to become teachers,
pharmacists, dentists, lawyers, physicians,
and scientists.
Women would also be granted the right to
vote and run for public office by 1935.