What if America "liberated" the Philippines

What if, instead of Annexing the Philippines after the Spanish American war, America made the semi-independent but gave them a Platt-Amendment to their constitution. This could be because of anti-imperialists scoring a victory in government, or McKinley not wanting a massive guerrilla war after someone runs the numbers with him. After all, the war had just been won easily, and it seemed a shame to have so many casualties trying to annex the Philippines after liberating Cuba. OTL, the Filipinos killed more Americans than the Spanish.
 
The question is not if the Americans would liberate the Philippines. The Philippines already liberated themselves in OTL.

The question would be if the Americans are willing to recognize the Philippine government as independent nation.
 
The question is not if the Americans would liberate the Philippines. The Philippines already liberated themselves in OTL.

The question would be if the Americans are willing to recognize the Philippine government as independent nation.

America was in control of vital ports and a few other areas, but I see your point. They naturally would not stand for an entirely independent Philippines, but negotiate a Platt amendment like clause in their constitution in this timeline.
 
Read MG Smedley Butler's (second award of Medal of Honor and the Marine Corps Brevette Medal) "War is a Racket" (on-line) and his consideration of the disaster we made of the Filipinos' Liberation. They liberated themselves except for important ports (as noted above) but friends of Congressmen and the President wanted to cash in as carpet-baggers.
 
well for a start

the population of the Philippines in 1914 would be at least several hundred thousand greater

since the Americans killed at least that many suppressing the Filipino nationalists and regional insurgents
(see a pattern here anyone)

and more importantly, at least to the NRA, the Colt.45 M1911 would probably not exist

since that was developed as a Moro stopper
 
the population of the Philippines in 1914 would be at least several hundred thousand greater

since the Americans killed at least that many suppressing the Filipino nationalists and regional insurgents

What is special about 1914? Are they going to somehow get roped into WW1?

and more importantly, at least to the NRA, the Colt.45 M1911 would probably not exist since that was developed as a Moro stopper

Now that's an unexpected result, Alternate History at its finest.
 
As for the effects on history if the governments manage to negotiate a semi-dependent Philippines(like Cuba from the same war), what will happen?
 
Interesting thought about 1914 and WW1

What is special about 1914? Are they going to somehow get roped into WW1?

However I chose that because in December 1913, Pershing was replaced as governor of Moro Province by a civilian, Frank Carpenter, effectively ending US direct Military rule .. though not of course their occupation of the Philippines.

(nor other later Moro rebellions)

Strange how history repeats itself:

The US war against Spain took 3 months (including other theaters)
it took the occupying forces 3 years to destroy the Filipino republic
and the open guerrilla campaign took ten years
and flared up again for decades after

or perhaps not so strange, since this reality is one that it seems the Americans would rather forget
 
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Driftless

Donor
Perhaps a negotiated naval basing treaty? i.e Some type of mutually agreeable deal for what would become Subic Bay naval base.
 

Driftless

Donor
However I chose that because in December 1913, Pershing was replaced as governor of Moro Province by a civilian, Frank Carpenter, effectively ending US direct Military rule .. though not of course their occupation of the Philippines.

(nor other later Moro rebellions)

Strange how history repeats itself:

The US war against Spain took 3 months (including other theaters)
it took the occupying forces 3 years to destroy the Filipino republic
and the open guerrilla campaign took ten years
and flared up again for decades after

or perhaps not so strange, since this reality is one that it seems the Americans would rather forget

I'll go all Kumbaya here..... It's hindsight, but it would have been better to have devleoped a potential ally with benefits to both parties.
 
As for the effects on history if the governments manage to negotiate a semi-dependent Philippines(like Cuba from the same war), what will happen?

For starters, the US gets a convenient gateway to the Chinese market, without owning any Chinese territory. And a more significant naval presence in East Asia.

If you want this to happen have Bonifacio win instead.

Nope. It'll have a similar result.

The Filipino revolutionaries needed a charismatic and competent leader to be the face of the fledgling republic.

The best choices will be Jose Rizal and Marcelo H. Del Pilar. But both of them are dead before the POD. Maybe Mariano Ponce.
 
For starters, the US gets a convenient gateway to the Chinese market, without owning any Chinese territory. And a more significant naval presence in East Asia.

They achieved all that when this country was a colony. And we're not Chinese territory. We never were.

Nope. It'll have a similar result.

The Filipino revolutionaries needed a charismatic and competent leader to be the face of the fledgling republic.

The best choices will be Jose Rizal and Marcelo H. Del Pilar. But both of them are dead before the POD. Maybe Mariano Ponce.

had Antonio Luna survived the factionalism, perhaps he could have been the Filipino Napoleon/Caesar.

---

In any case, America was not supposed to be here in the first place. That command to Dewey to come south damned us all.
 
I doubt both of them becoming leaders of the Philippines had they alive past 1896.

Rizal is a mixed bag. But Del Pilar, definitely.

Shortly before his death Del Pilar already favors a revolution, and has established links with the Katipunan. Had he survived, he would've been the leader of the revolutionary movement. Heck, he might've convince Rizal to join, given he's a master talker and have a knack for politics.
 
If I remember, Mariano Ponce or Del Pilar tried to lobby the Japanese government to send aid and arms to the revolutionaries during the Spanish-American War. He did not succeed, but pan-Asian nationalists and proponents in Japan agreed to send volunteers and arms, including more than a million bullets, in two installments. However, when the first one was sunk by a typhoon in Taiwan's coast, the other ship was diverted to Sun-Yat Sen's fledgling revolutionaries, mainly because the Americans already won the war.

I think if the Philippines would be independent at this time, Japan would likely expand its influence here. Other European powers, including Germany and France are also interested, but are sent away by the Americans.
 
Rizal is a mixed bag. But Del Pilar, definitely.

Shortly before his death Del Pilar already favors a revolution, and has established links with the Katipunan. Had he survived, he would've been the leader of the revolutionary movement. Heck, he might've convince Rizal to join, given he's a master talker and have a knack for politics.

Rizal actually did not want an independent Philippines that early, as he believed the mostly uneducated populace is not ready for self-government.
 
Rizal actually did not want an independent Philippines that early, as he believed the mostly uneducated populace is not ready for self-government.

Also, it is because if the Spanish leave the islands it would be transferred to the rule of the oligarchs.
 
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As for the effects on history if the governments manage to negotiate a semi-dependent Philippines(like Cuba from the same war), what will happen?

A treaty is a possibility. However, the circumstance between the Philippines is different from Cuba right after the Spanish American war. The Philippines can agree to naval/coaling station, give USA commercial advantages or sign a mutual defense treaty. But most likely the philippines would want to keep its right deal foreign relations with other countries.

In Cuba, U.S. Army literally did the work load. USA had complete control regardless if the Cubans wanted the treaty or not. The Cubans were also smaller both in population and natural resources.

In the Philippines, the situation of Cuba doesn't hold true. The Philippines essentially can reject the treaty without the American being able to do anything except fight a war.

Also, it is because if the Spanish leave the islands it would be transferred to the rule of the oligarchs.

The problem I don't think are the current oligarchs in 1898 since they were the peninsulares which everyone was fighting against. the problem would be right after you win the war. Who now wields power, to which power and to what extent. It is the essence of revolution-change including social status.
 
The problem I don't think are the current oligarchs in 1898 since they were the peninsulares which everyone was fighting against. the problem would be right after you win the war. Who now wields power, to which power and to what extent. It is the essence of revolution-change including social status.

The oligarchs were both the Peninsulares and the Principalia.
 
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