Final answer:
The Tydings-McDuffie Act helped the Philippines by setting a timetable for independence, allowing self-governance during the Commonwealth period, and changing the status of Filipinos in the US to noncitizen aliens. Although it placed restrictions on Filipino immigration, it ultimately laid the foundation for the Philippines' full sovereignty in 1946.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Tydings-McDuffie Act in 1934 played a significant role during the Commonwealth period of the Philippines by setting the nation on a path to independence, expected to be realized by 1944. The act responded to Filipino activists' appeals for autonomy, yet it was also influenced by American desires to restrict Filipino immigration. One immediate effect of the Tydings-McDuffie Act was the reclassification of Filipinos as noncitizen aliens, which legally inhibited their ability to live and work in the United States, aligning with the restrictions of the 1924 National Origins Act that placed quotas on immigrants.
Moreover, under the Act, the Commonwealth of the Philippines was established, which afforded the Philippines a level of self-governance while preparing for full sovereignty. The Act also had underlying strategic motives, as the United States sought to maintain its military presence in the region through naval bases. Despite the law's restrictive aspects on immigration, it was a stepping stone to independence which led to the transition from colonial rule to self-governance, and eventual full sovereignty of the Philippines post-World War II in 1946.