Philippine War in the Philippines Three Year War

Philippine War in the Philippines

Three Year War 1899 -1902 • The Philippine Islands were given to the U. S. for $20 million by Spain after the Spanish American War under the Treaty of Paris • The Filipino Nationalists began fighting against American occupation two days before ratification of the treaty by the U. S senate

Filipino People Want Independence • Emilio Aguinaldo led the nationalist army against the United States • He had been promised independence by US Admiral George Dewey when the Aguinaldo and his troops helped Americans remove Spain from the Philippines

Guerrilla Warfare • Filipino soldiers engaged in guerrilla warfare tactics because they lacked sophisticated weapons and warships like the United States

American response to “insurrection” • American troops tortured Filipino soldiers or anyone suspected of helping the “rebels” • Civilians were put in concentration camps controlled by U. S. military • Entire villages were burned

African American Troops – 9 th and 10 th and the 24 th and 25 th • African American troops were sent to fight against Filipino soldiers • Prominent civil rights leaders, like Ida Wells and Booker T. Washington, argued that it was morally wrong for Afr. -Amer. soldiers to help the U. S. oppress another race

Booker T. Washington • At first, Washington was supportive of African-Americans fighting in the war against Spain. • Washington changes his mind when the U. S. fights in the Philippines, believing the United States was making war only to expand US greed, and was denying democracy to the Filipino people. " My opinion is that the Philippines should be given the opportunity to govern themselves. "

Casualties and Deaths • 4, 200 American soldiers died • 20, 000 Filipino soldiers died • 200, 000 Filipino civilians died from starvation or disease • War cost the US $400 million • Philippines became independent after WWII in 1946