Philippine History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Philippine History - Essay Example On December 10, 1898, the final version of the Treaty of Paris was signed in Paris (hence the namesake). The treaty formally ceded territories, particularly the Philippines from Spain to the United States for $20 million (Zaide, 1984). As any colony would react, the short-term consequence of the acquisition of the Philippines by America can be considered rough. Barely three months after the acquisition of the Philippines, the conflict between the United States and the Philippines began on February 04, 1899 which quickly escalated into a full war with the Battle of Manila in 1899 (Philippine History.org, 2012). Shortly, Philippines declared war against the United States on July 04, 1902 which was known as the Philippine War of Independence with former Katipunan fighters extending their fight against the Americans from their former colonizers, the Spaniards (Lee, 2012). World War II broke out and following the war, the United States relinquished control of the Philippine territory by signing the Treaty of General Relations albeit with conditions which are the signing of the Bell Trade Act which in effect still enforces some sort of control on the Philippine territory. The US established a military in Subic, Philippines and prohibited the country from manufacturing any product that might be of competition against US products. The United States also forced the Philippines to have unlimited access to its natural resources and to have an equal stature with the local with the signing of the Parity Rights Agreement. The American occupation of the Philippines can be said to have changed its cultural perspective.