Rights and Responsibilities
Emilio Aguinaldo was one of the many people who in the country wanted Philippines to become an independent nation. Spain has been ruling Philippines as its colony for over 300 years. The Spanish colonist there find themselves superior than the native Filipinos and exploited them financial as well. Aguinaldo joined a resistance group to help overthrow Spanish rule from Philippines in a violent matter. When the leader of the group was killed Aguinaldo took his place as the new leader. In 1896 the revolt started to escalate as Filipino rebels lead by Aguinaldo fought and won several battles against Spanish soldiers. Aguinaldo came to a deal with the Spanish troops to exile himself in Hong Kong in exchange for 400,000 pesos. During his time their he bought weapons and supplies to help support his troops for battle. After the U.S declared war on Spain he returned home to help capture Manila. Then declared Philippines an independent nation after the second article on the Malolos Constitution on June 12, 1898, and Aguinaldo declared himself the first president of Philippines.
However peace did not last long as the Treaty of Paris states that Spain were to hand over its former colonies to the United States. The U.S forces stationed on the islands were to annexed the entire nation thinking that the new Filipino governement was incapable of self rule and that the country would easily fall to more powerful nations. Aguinaldo demonstrated his authority as president by helping with Malolos Constitution which states that Philippines was to be recognized as an independent nation.
The United States not wanting to recognize Aguinaldo's authority ordered him to allow Philippines to be a U.S territory after fighting hard to become free from Spain. Eventually he was forced to declare a state of war against the U.S on February 4, 1899. During the first few months of the war Aguinaldo tried to fight a conventional war against the U.s forces but was outmatched by the battle-trained and well-equipped american soldiers. Throughout the rest of the war he resorted to guerilla tactics which caused heavy casualties on the American side. The first After 3 years of brutal fighting and heavy casualties on both sides, Aguinaldo was eventually captured and forced to surrender on March 23, 1901. Aguinaldo then left the public to become a farmer. Even during the war, President William Howard Taft launched the "policy of attraction". This allowed the country to be self governed, introduced social reform, and gave plans for economical development. This program gained support from the Filipino people and undermined the revolutionaries popular appeal. In 1907, the Philippines convened its first elected assembly, in 1916, the Jones act promised the nation eventual independence, in 1935 the country became a commonwealth, and finally in 1945 the nation became independent.
However peace did not last long as the Treaty of Paris states that Spain were to hand over its former colonies to the United States. The U.S forces stationed on the islands were to annexed the entire nation thinking that the new Filipino governement was incapable of self rule and that the country would easily fall to more powerful nations. Aguinaldo demonstrated his authority as president by helping with Malolos Constitution which states that Philippines was to be recognized as an independent nation.
The United States not wanting to recognize Aguinaldo's authority ordered him to allow Philippines to be a U.S territory after fighting hard to become free from Spain. Eventually he was forced to declare a state of war against the U.S on February 4, 1899. During the first few months of the war Aguinaldo tried to fight a conventional war against the U.s forces but was outmatched by the battle-trained and well-equipped american soldiers. Throughout the rest of the war he resorted to guerilla tactics which caused heavy casualties on the American side. The first After 3 years of brutal fighting and heavy casualties on both sides, Aguinaldo was eventually captured and forced to surrender on March 23, 1901. Aguinaldo then left the public to become a farmer. Even during the war, President William Howard Taft launched the "policy of attraction". This allowed the country to be self governed, introduced social reform, and gave plans for economical development. This program gained support from the Filipino people and undermined the revolutionaries popular appeal. In 1907, the Philippines convened its first elected assembly, in 1916, the Jones act promised the nation eventual independence, in 1935 the country became a commonwealth, and finally in 1945 the nation became independent.