PHILIPPINES' SECOND FIGHT FOR INDEPENDENCE

1934

When the Philippines declared independence from Spain in 1896 after three centuries of colonization, the Philippines became a U.S. territory with the signing of the 1898 Treaty of Paris just a few years later. Filipino forces did attempt to fight for independence once more during the 1899-1902 Philippine-American War, but they were ultimately defeated.

The Tydings-McDuffie Act, also known as the Philippine Commonwealth and Independence Act, was signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1934. After a ten-year transitional period of Commonwealth government, the Philippines would be able to claim independence from American colonial rule. During this time, Manuel Quezon was elected as president. and the Philippines 1935 Constitution was created along with the Commonwealth of the Philippines.

In 1942 during World War II, the Philippine islands fell under Japanese occupation. The U.S. and Filipino forces fought together from 1944 to 1945 to regain control. After numerous periods of occupation and colonization, the Republic of the Philippines attained its independence on July 4th, 1946—once and for all.