|
1521 |
Ferdinand Magellan
explores the islands now known as
the Philippines
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|
1542 |
Spanish
military party claims islands for
Spain;
names them "Philippines" after Prince Philip, later King Philip II of
Spain; Philippines becomes part of Spanish Empire
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|
1886 |
José Rizal
publishes anti-Spanish novel, Noli Me Tangere (The Lost Eden);
popularizes independence sentiment
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|
1896 |
Spanish execute Rizal for instigating insurrection; public
outrage spawns rebellion
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|
1899 |
Treaty of Paris
ends
Spanish-American War,
cedes Philippines to U.S.
Filipinos
declare their independence;
Emilio Aguinaldo
leads guerrilla war against U.S.
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|
1901 |
U.S. captures
Aquinaldo;
William Howard Taft
arrives as first U.S. governor of Philippines
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|
1902 |
Insurrection ends; Taft improves economic conditions,
settles disputes over church ownership of land, establishes pensionado
program, allowing Filipinos to study in U.S., which helped modernize and
westernize the country
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|
1916 |
U.S. government passes Jones Law establishing elected
Filipino legislature with house and senate
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|
1934 |
U.S. approves Tydings-McDuffie Act promising Philippine
independence in 1946; transition to independence begins
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|
1935 |
Filipino people approve constitution creating Commonwealth
of the Philippines with Manuel Quezon y Molina as president
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|
1941 |
Japanese invade
Philippines, and defeat
Gen. Douglas MacArthur
at Bataan and Corregidor; Quezon establishes government in exile
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|
1944 |
Quezon dies; Vice President Sergio Osmeña takes presidency;
MacArthur reinvades Philippines
Top |
|
1945 |
MacArthur
liberates
Manila;
Osmeña establishes government
Top |
|
1946 |
Philippines becomes independent nation; Manuel Roxas y
Acuña elected first president
Top |
