Final answer:
In response to Filipino guerrilla warfare during the Philippine-American War, the U.S. initially used brutal suppression tactics but later shifted to a 'policy of attraction' to pacify and gain support from the Filipino population.
Step-by-step explanation:
The U.S. response to the guerrilla tactics employed by the Filipino rebels during their struggle for independence after the Spanish-American War was multifaceted and complex. Initially, U.S. forces attempted to suppress the insurrection through conventional military operations, which included atrocities such as torture, the burning of villages, construction of concentration camps, and policies that led to widespread starvation and disease among the Filipino population. The conflict, known as the Philippine-American War or the Philippine Insurrection, eventually led to the shift in U.S. strategy which included a 'policy of attraction'. This policy sought to win the support of Filipinos through promises of economic development and self-government, efforts exemplified by the administration of Governor William Howard Taft who introduced infrastructure, health, and educational reforms. Notwithstanding these reforms, the U.S. also relied on harsh measures to break the resistance, as indicated by the infamous order to kill all capable of bearing arms, blurring the lines between combatants and non-combatants.