2. August 1896: Revolt in the Philippines
► In the fall of 1896,Filipino nationalist revolted
against the Spanish rule that had controlled the
Philippines since the sixteenth century.
► Led by Emilio Aguinaldo (1869-1964), the
1896 revolt carried the Filipino’s to an
anticipated war with Spanish an unanticipated
war with the United States.
3. ► Historians suggest that the roots of the Philippine revolution began with
building of the Suez Canal in 1869. With access to Europe, Filipinos were
exposed to new ideas about freedom and returned home questioning Spanish
rule. In 1872, there was a small revolt in the Cavite Province which launched the
revolutionary cause.
► Twenty years after the 1872 revolt, Filipino nationalists began to organize
secretly. In 1892 Jose Rizal founded Liga Filipina, and in 1895 Andres Bonifacio
organized the Katipunan, a fraternal brotherhood of Filipino nationalists committed
to independence. Emilio Aguinaldo joined the Katipunan in 1895 and became its
leader in the Cavite Province. Once initiated, Aguinaldo became known as
Magdalo, named after Mary Magdalene.
4. .► In 1896 the armed struggle began in Manila and
quickly spread throughout the country. Aguinaldo
defeated Spanish forces in several battles and rose to
become the leader of Katipunan. Aguinaldo had Bonifacio
arrested and executed in 1897
► When the United States and Spain went to war over
Cuba, the Philippines joined the side of the U.S. On June
12, 1898, Aguinaldo declared the independence of the
Philippine islands, and in January 1899 he became the
president. While the Filipinos believed that a U.S. defeat
of Spain would lead to a free Philippines, the U.S. refused
to recognize the new government. Outraged by the
betrayal, the Philippine republic declared war on the
United States. Emilio Aguinaldo, after fighting with the
U.S. against Spain, was captured by the U.S. military in
1901 and declared allegiance to the United States. By the
end of the Philippine War in 1902, more 40,000 Filipinos
and 4,000 American soldiers were dead.
