The Philippines is an incredibly diverse nation in terms of language, religion, ethnicity and also geography. Ethnic and religious fault-lines that run through the country continue to produce a state of constant, low-level civil war between north and south. The Commonwealth of the Philippines was invaded by the Empire of Japan in December 1941 shortly after Japan's declaration of war upon the United States of America, which controlled the Philippines at the time and possessed important military bases there.
●Early History:
People first reached the Philippines about 30,000 years ago, when the Negritos immigrated from Sumatra and Borneo via boats or land-bridges. They were followed by Malays, then Chinese beginning in the 9th century, and Spaniards in the 16th.
●Spanish Rule:
The Spanish Philippines was actually controlled by the government of Spanish North America prior to Mexican independence in 1810.Throughout the Spanish colonial era, the people of the Philippines staged a number of uprisings.
●American Rule:
Throughout the early 20th century, Filipinos took increasing amounts of control over governance of the country. In 1935, the Philippines was established as a self-governing commonwealth, with Manuel Quezon as its first president. The nation was slated to become fully independent in 1945, but World War II interrupted that plan.
●Early History:
People first reached the Philippines about 30,000 years ago, when the Negritos immigrated from Sumatra and Borneo via boats or land-bridges. They were followed by Malays, then Chinese beginning in the 9th century, and Spaniards in the 16th.
●Spanish Rule:
The Spanish Philippines was actually controlled by the government of Spanish North America prior to Mexican independence in 1810.Throughout the Spanish colonial era, the people of the Philippines staged a number of uprisings.
●American Rule:
Throughout the early 20th century, Filipinos took increasing amounts of control over governance of the country. In 1935, the Philippines was established as a self-governing commonwealth, with Manuel Quezon as its first president. The nation was slated to become fully independent in 1945, but World War II interrupted that plan.