History of the Philippines (1946–1965)

This article covers the history of the Philippines from the granting of independence in 1946 to the end of the presidency of Diosdado Macapagal.

Philippine independence

Philippine declaration of independence (1898)

On June 12, 1898, prior to the formal conclusion of the Spanish-American war, Filipino revolutionary forces under General Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed the sovereignty and independence of the Philippine Islands from the colonial rule of Spain. The declaration, however, was not recognized by the United States or Spain, and was not generally recognized by other nations. The Spanish government ceded the Philippines to the United States in the 1898 Treaty of Paris, in consideration for an indemnity for Spanish expenses and assets lost.

American recognition of independence (1946)

On July 4, 1946, representatives of the United States of America and of the Republic of the Philippines signed a Treaty of General relations between the two governments. The treaty provided for the recognition of the independence of the Republic of the Philippines as of July 4, 1946, and the relinquishment of American sovereignty over the Philippine Islands.Citation
url=http://untreaty.un.org/unts/1_60000/1/6/00000254.pdf
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title=TREATY OF GENERAL RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES. SIGNED AT MANILA, ON 4 JULY 1946
publisher=United Nations
accessdate=2007-12-10]

Filipino historians point out that independence in 1946 came with numerous strings attached. The U.S. retained dozens of military bases, including a few major ones, and independence was linked to legislation passed by the U.S. Congress that was designed to ensure that the Philippines would remain an economic ward of the U.S., for the time being.

For example, the Bell Trade Act prohibited the Philippines from manufacturing or selling any products that might "come into substantial competition" with U.S.-made goods, and it required that the Philippine constitution be revised to grant U.S. citizens and corporations equal access to Philippine minerals, forests, and other natural resources. One U.S. State Department official described the law as "clearly inconsistent with the basic foreign economic policy of this country" and a betrayal of "our promise to grant the Philippines genuine independence."

But the Philippines had little choice but to accept these terms for independence. The U.S. Congress was threatening to withhold post-World War II rebuilding funds unless the Bell Act was ratified. The Philippine Congress obliged on July 2, 1946.

The Philippines celebrates its Independence Day in recognition of June 12, 1898, when the Philippines declared its independence from Spain, although its independence was only recognized on July 4, 1946, by the United States. From 1946 to 1961, Independence Day was observed on July 4 each year, but then President Diosdado Macapagal, upon the advice of some historians, reverted to the June 12 date, which up to that time had been observed as Flag Day in the Philippines.

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References

External links

* [http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/philippines/tl01.html PBS Frontline]
* [http://www.pidci.org Philippine Independence Day Celebration - NYC]
* [http://filipiniana.net/read_content.jsp?filename=T00000000003&page=1&epage=1 Mutual Defense Treaty] Full text of the Mutual Defense Treaty between the Philippines and United States of America.
* [http://filipiniana.net/read_content.jsp?filename=T00000000002&page=1&epage=1 Treaty of General Relations] Full text of the Treaty of General Relations between the Philippines and United States of America
* [http://www.philippines-timeline.com/second-independence.htm The Timeline of Philippine History: Second Independence]