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<img src="https://cdn.kahimyang.com/resources-25/arthur-macarthur-jr.avif" alt="Major General Arthur MacArthur Jr." />
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(U.S. Military Governor of the Philippines General Arthur MacArthur Jr.)
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<h2>
Background of the Philippine-American War
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The Philippine-American War erupted in <a href="https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/913/today-in-philippine-history-february-4-1899-marked-the-start-of-the-filipino-american-war" class="news_link">February 1899</a>, shortly after the United States acquired the Philippines from Spain under the <a href="https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/5/the-treaty-of-paris-of-1899" class="news_link">Treaty of Paris</a> (1898). Filipino revolutionaries, who had been fighting for independence from Spanish rule, rejected American sovereignty and sought to establish an independent republic under Aguinaldo's leadership. Initially, the conflict resembled conventional warfare, with U.S. forces achieving early victories. However, by late 1899, Filipino forces shifted to guerrilla tactics, prolonging the war and frustrating American military efforts.
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General Arthur MacArthur Jr., appointed Military Governor in May 1900, inherited a complex and deteriorating situation. The Filipino guerrilla campaign, characterized by ambushes, sabotage, and widespread local support, challenged U.S. authority. By mid-1900, American forces controlled major urban centers but struggled to pacify rural areas, where Filipino resistance remained strong.
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December 20, 1900: Arthur MacArthur Jr. Declared Martial Law in the Philippines