Final answer:
The Filipinos faced a difficult period under American rule after being ceded to the U.S. following the Spanish-American War, including torture, violence, and discrimination. William Howard Taft's governance brought some improvements, but anti-Filipino sentiment continued until their independence on July 4, 1946, still allowing U.S. military and economic presence.
Step-by-step explanation:
After the Philippines were ceded to the United States in the aftermath of the Spanish-American War, the Filipinos faced a difficult period under American rule. Initially, Filipino leaders who had fought for independence from Spain hoped the United States would grant them self-governance, but the U.S. had other plans. President William McKinley articulated the decision to retain control over the Philippines based on perceived unfitness for self-governance among Filipinos, a stance that led to the Philippine-American War.
The war saw brutal tactics on both sides, including torture, the burning of villages, and the creation of concentration camps by U.S. forces. Filipino guerilla tactics prolonged the conflict, but eventually, significant resistance was subdued by the appointment of William Howard Taft as the civil governor. Taft's administration focused on infrastructure, health, and education improvements, attempting to win over the local population and integrate Filipino leaders into the governance structure through reforms and appointments.
Despite these reforms, anti-Filipino sentiment and discrimination persisted in the United States, especially towards Filipino migrants, reaching a peak with the passage of the Tydings-McDuffie Act in 1934. This Act promised future independence but restricted Filipino immigration by classifying them as noncitizen aliens. Full Philippine independence was finally recognized by President Harry Truman on July 4, 1946, but even then, U.S. military bases remained, and American businesses retained preferential access to Philippine resources.