The Establishment of American Civil Government

The Establishment of American Civil GovernmentSo 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 GOVERNMENTestablished on August 14, 1898First Military Governor General Wesley Meritt- powers: Army, War and StateMilitary Governors:Gen. Wesley MerittGen. Elwell S. OtisGen. Arthur McArthurMILITARY GOVERNMENTPacified the countryLaid the foundations for the establishment of the civil government

MILITARY GOVERNMENTIntroduced the American school system with soldiers as teachersLocal governments were establishedOrganized civil courts such as the Supreme CourtCayetano Arellano first chief justiceFirst election under American flagby Gen. Henry W. Lawton in Baliuag, Bulacan, on May 7, 1899SCHURMAN COMMISSIONFirst Philippine Commission January 20, 1899Headed by Dr. Jacob G. Schurman

To study the Philippine situation and make recommendations for the creation of an American colonial administrationRecommendations:Withdrawal of Military rule; replaced with civil government as soon as possibleCreation of bicameral legislatureEstablishment of autonomous local governmentA system of free public elementary schoolsConservation of natural resourcesAppointment of highly capable men for officeTAFT COMMISSIONSecond Philippine Commission March 16, 1900Headed by Judge William H. TaftMuch more successful than the last commission

This commission has now power to write laws.TAFT COMMISSIONJudicial system was established- including the Supreme CourtCivil Service System for maintenance of an efficient and honest civil service in the countryFirst law: Php. 2,000,000 for construction and repair of roads and bridges in the PhilippinesFrom September 1900 to August 1902, it enacted total of 499 lawsSPOONER AMENDMENTA congressional amendment to the Army Appropriations Act of 1901 that called for the end of the U.S. military government in the PhilippinesBy Senator John Coit SpoonerMarch 2, 1901CIVIL GOVERNMENTInaugurated in July 4, 1901Judge William H. Taft as the First Civil Governor or the First American Governor-General in the PhilippinesPhilippines for the FilipinosComposed of civilians rather than soldiersBanishment of the PatriotsFilipinos 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 LawEnacted 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 ActEnacted 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 LawEnacted in 1907This law forbids the display of the Philippine Flag.In response, Gregorio Aglipay had a habit sewn in the design of the Philippine Flag.

Tafts AdministrationPhilippines for the FilipinosThe sale of huge tracts of friar lands to Filipinos on installment terms; 410,000 hectaresEnglish was declared the official language600 American teachers boarded USS ThomasFirst official census March 2, 1903Cooper Act/Philippine Organic Act of 1902July 1, 1902

The Philippine Bill of 1902U.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 grievancesPhilippine Bill of 1902a bill of rights for the Filipinos;

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 1903March 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 PartiesTrinidad 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 independencePartido Nacional Progresista to work for independence in due timeThe Election of 1907The 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 ProgresistaThe First Philippine AssemblyThe 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.16,1907Sergio Osmena House of RepresentativesManuel L. Quezon President SenatePensionado Program1903, 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 CommissionersThe 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 SystemIn 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.25The Position of WomenNow 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.