After Spain's defeat during the Spanish-American war, they ceded their colony of Philippines to the United States under the Treaty of Paris. The ensuing Philippine-American war lasted three years and caused the deaths of over 4,200 American soldiers and an even more staggering 20,000 Filipino soldiers. Even civilian casualties ranged to almost 200,000 deaths due to violence, famine, and disease. The U.S saw this conflict as an "insurrection" rather than acknowledge that the Filipinos were fighting to ward off another foreign invader.
May 1, 1898
Admiral Dewey launches surprise attack against a handful of Spanish war vessels in Manila Bay.
Commander of Spain’s Asian naval fleet surrenders.
May 19, 1898
President McKinley instructs his cabinet to make preparations for the occupation the Philippines.
June 12, 1898
Generalissimo Emilio Aguinaldo, along with other Filipino leaders, sign the Proclamation of
Independence.
Summer, 1898
Volunteers soldiers from many Midwestern states enlist to fight Spanish.
U.S. soldiers defeat Spanish troops in Cuba
August 13, 1898
Volunteers from the 13th Minnesota take part in invasion of Manila.
Filipino Army (who control suburbs) kept out of city by U.S. soldiers.
Spanish Commander quickly surrenders (surrender had been arranged prior to battle, unbeknownst
to rank and file soldiers).
This is the final battle of the Spanish American War.
September 15, 1898
The Malolos Congress is convened to lay the legal and constitutional foundations for what is to
become the First Philippine Republic.
December 12, 1898
U.S. and Spanish negotiators sign the Treaty of Paris, officially ending the Spanish-American War
and ceding the Philippines to the U.S. for $20 million. However, perhaps mindful of the yet
unfinished build-up of its ground forces, the U.S. refuses to dispel Filipino suppositions that the
Americans might yet recognize Philippine independence.
January 23, 1899
Generalissimo Emilio Aguinaldo formally proclaims the establishment of the First Philippine
Republic at Malolos in Bulacan province.
February 4, 1899
U.S. sentries shoot and kill 4 Filipino troops at Santa Mesa bridge. This incident marks the
beginning of the Philippine-American War. Out of a population of about 6 million, Filipinos lost an estimated 400,000 to 600,000 lives in the conflict. American losses were approximately
4,200.
February 6, 1899
With one vote to spare beyond the required two-thirds majority, the U.S. Senate votes to annex the
Philippines.
Spring & Summer, 1899
U.S. soldiers, who had volunteered to fight the Spaniards, become disaffected with the war, horrified
that they have been ordered to wage war with Filipinos. Letters sent to their families back home
turn the tide of American sentiment against the war. Filipino soldiers wage a dogged guerilla war
despite a shortage of weapons, but American troops easily conquer village after village. In the
remote countryside, popular resistance continues.
March 23, 1901
Emilio Aguinaldo was captured by American forces.
July 4, 1902
U.S. declares victory in Philippine-American War. Filipino resistance continues until 1910.
October 12, 1899
Minnesota Governor John Lind, even on the occasion of welcoming the volunteer soldiers back to Minnesota,
offered praise that rang hollow with the horror of what the men had discovered in their tour of duty:
"The mission of the American volunteer soldier has come to an end. For purposes of conquest he is unfit,
since he carries a conscience as well as a gun. The volunteer soldier has always stood for self-government,
liberty and justice. With your generation he will pass from the stage of our national life [Emphasis
added]."
1942
Japan takes control of the Philippines in World War II.
October 20, 1944
U.S. forces return to the Philippines. MacArthur lands in the island of Leyte. Philippine
government is re-established three days later.
July 4, 1946
The Philippines is granted political independence by the U.S.
Admiral Dewey launches surprise attack against a handful of Spanish war vessels in Manila Bay.
Commander of Spain’s Asian naval fleet surrenders.
May 19, 1898
President McKinley instructs his cabinet to make preparations for the occupation the Philippines.
June 12, 1898
Generalissimo Emilio Aguinaldo, along with other Filipino leaders, sign the Proclamation of
Independence.
Summer, 1898
Volunteers soldiers from many Midwestern states enlist to fight Spanish.
U.S. soldiers defeat Spanish troops in Cuba
August 13, 1898
Volunteers from the 13th Minnesota take part in invasion of Manila.
Filipino Army (who control suburbs) kept out of city by U.S. soldiers.
Spanish Commander quickly surrenders (surrender had been arranged prior to battle, unbeknownst
to rank and file soldiers).
This is the final battle of the Spanish American War.
September 15, 1898
The Malolos Congress is convened to lay the legal and constitutional foundations for what is to
become the First Philippine Republic.
December 12, 1898
U.S. and Spanish negotiators sign the Treaty of Paris, officially ending the Spanish-American War
and ceding the Philippines to the U.S. for $20 million. However, perhaps mindful of the yet
unfinished build-up of its ground forces, the U.S. refuses to dispel Filipino suppositions that the
Americans might yet recognize Philippine independence.
January 23, 1899
Generalissimo Emilio Aguinaldo formally proclaims the establishment of the First Philippine
Republic at Malolos in Bulacan province.
February 4, 1899
U.S. sentries shoot and kill 4 Filipino troops at Santa Mesa bridge. This incident marks the
beginning of the Philippine-American War. Out of a population of about 6 million, Filipinos lost an estimated 400,000 to 600,000 lives in the conflict. American losses were approximately
4,200.
February 6, 1899
With one vote to spare beyond the required two-thirds majority, the U.S. Senate votes to annex the
Philippines.
Spring & Summer, 1899
U.S. soldiers, who had volunteered to fight the Spaniards, become disaffected with the war, horrified
that they have been ordered to wage war with Filipinos. Letters sent to their families back home
turn the tide of American sentiment against the war. Filipino soldiers wage a dogged guerilla war
despite a shortage of weapons, but American troops easily conquer village after village. In the
remote countryside, popular resistance continues.
March 23, 1901
Emilio Aguinaldo was captured by American forces.
July 4, 1902
U.S. declares victory in Philippine-American War. Filipino resistance continues until 1910.
October 12, 1899
Minnesota Governor John Lind, even on the occasion of welcoming the volunteer soldiers back to Minnesota,
offered praise that rang hollow with the horror of what the men had discovered in their tour of duty:
"The mission of the American volunteer soldier has come to an end. For purposes of conquest he is unfit,
since he carries a conscience as well as a gun. The volunteer soldier has always stood for self-government,
liberty and justice. With your generation he will pass from the stage of our national life [Emphasis
added]."
1942
Japan takes control of the Philippines in World War II.
October 20, 1944
U.S. forces return to the Philippines. MacArthur lands in the island of Leyte. Philippine
government is re-established three days later.
July 4, 1946
The Philippines is granted political independence by the U.S.