Commonwealth of the Philippines

Commonwealth of the Philippines
source
Native name	Komonwelt ng Pilipinas
Conventional long name	Commonwealth of the Philippines
Common name	Philippines
Continent	Asia
Region	Southeast Asia
Event start	Established
Date start	November 15, 1935
Event end	Dissolved
Date end	July 4, 1946
P1	United States
S1	Third Republic of the Philippines

Commonwealth of the Philippines. The Treaty of Paris (1898) led to the Spanish–American War, resulting in the United States acquiring the Philippines from Spain. The Philippine Revolution against Spain and the subsequent Philippine–American War led to the establishment of the Insular Government of the Philippines, with William Howard Taft as its first Governor-General of the Philippines. The Jones Act (1916) and the Tydings–McDuffie Act paved the way for the creation of the Commonwealth of the Philippines, with Manuel Quezon as its first President of the Philippines. The United States Congress passed the Hare–Hawes–Cutting Act, which was rejected by the Philippine Senate, leading to the Tydings–McDuffie Act.

● History

The Commonwealth of the Philippines was established on November 15, 1935, with Manuel Quezon as its first President of the Philippines and Sergio Osmeña as its first Vice President of the Philippines. The Constitution of the Philippines (1935) was ratified, providing for a presidential system and a bicameral legislature composed of the Senate of the Philippines and the House of Representatives of the Philippines. The National Defense Act of 1935 was passed, establishing the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The Commonwealth of the Philippines was involved in the Second Sino-Japanese War, with China receiving support from the United States and the Soviet Union. The Japanese invasion of the Philippines during World War II led to the Battle of Bataan and the Battle of Corregidor, with Douglas MacArthur leading the United States Armed Forces and the Philippine Commonwealth Army.

● Government

The Government of the Philippines was headed by the President of the Philippines, with Manuel Quezon and Sergio Osmeña serving as the first and second President of the Philippines, respectively. The Vice President of the Philippines served as the President of the Senate of the Philippines. The Cabinet of the Philippines was composed of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs (Philippines), Secretary of National Defense (Philippines), and Secretary of Finance (Philippines), among others. The Supreme Court of the Philippines was the highest court in the land, with Chief Justice of the Philippines Jose P. Laurel serving as its chief magistrate. The Congress of the Philippines was composed of the Senate of the Philippines and the House of Representatives of the Philippines, with Quezon City as its seat.

● Economy

The economy of the Philippines during the Commonwealth of the Philippines period was primarily agriculture-based, with rice, sugar, and coconut being major crops. The Philippine peso was the official currency, with the Central Bank of the Philippines serving as the central bank. The National Development Company was established to promote economic development, with Marikina and Cebu being major industrial centers. The Port of Manila was a major shipping hub, with trade relations with the United States, Japan, and China. The Philippine National Bank was established to provide financial services, with Andres Soriano serving as its first president.

● Culture

The culture of the Philippines during the Commonwealth of the Philippines period was shaped by Spanish, American, and Malay influences. The Philippine language was declared the national language, with English and Spanish being widely spoken. The University of the Philippines was established as the national university, with University of Santo Tomas and Ateneo de Manila University being major private universities. The National Museum of the Philippines was established to promote arts and culture, with Luna Awards and FAMAS Awards recognizing excellence in cinema. The Philippine Basketball Association was established, with basketball being a popular sport, along with boxing and football.

● Foreign Relations

The foreign relations of the Philippines during the Commonwealth of the Philippines period were primarily with the United States, with the Treaty of Manila (1946) establishing diplomatic relations. The Philippines was a member of the League of Nations, with Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill being major allies. The Japanese invasion of the Philippines during World War II led to the Battle of the Philippines (1941–1942), with Douglas MacArthur and Emilio Aguinaldo leading the resistance. The Soviet Union provided support to the Hukbalahap, a communist guerrilla movement, while the China provided support to the Kuomintang-backed Tang Shaoyi.

● Dissolution

The Commonwealth of the Philippines was dissolved on July 4, 1946, with the establishment of the Third Republic of the Philippines. The Treaty of Manila (1946) established diplomatic relations between the United States and the Philippines, with Manuel Roxas as the first President of the Philippines of the Third Republic of the Philippines. The Philippine Constitution (1935) was replaced by the Constitution of the Philippines (1973), with a presidential system and a bicameral legislature. The Armed Forces of the Philippines was established, with Ramon Magsaysay serving as the first Secretary of National Defense (Philippines). The United States retained military bases in the Philippines, with Subic Bay and Clark Air Base being major bases.

Category:Former countries in Asia