why did the philippine american war happen and why the tirad pass of the philippines fall apart why did they surendder?
Answer (1)
The Philippine-American War happened due to a complex interplay of factors following the Spanish-American War: U.S. Acquisition of the Philippines: After defeating Spain in 1898, the U.S. purchased the Philippines for $20 million under the Treaty of Paris. Filipino Declaration of Independence: Filipino nationalists, led by Emilio Aguinaldo, had already declared independence from Spain on June 12, 1898, and established the First Philippine Republic. They expected the U.S. to recognize their independence, similar to how the U.S. supported Cuba's independence from Spain. U.S. Refusal to Recognize Filipino Independence: The U.S., driven by imperialistic ambitions, strategic interests in the Pacific, and a belief that Filipinos were not ready for self-governance, refused to recognize the First Philippine Republic. Outbreak of Hostilities: Tensions escalated, and on February 4, 1899, fighting broke out between American and Filipino forces in Manila, marking the beginning of the Philippine-American War. The Battle of Tirad Pass on December 2, 1899, was a significant but ultimately unsuccessful delaying action by Filipino forces. It "fell apart" and the Filipinos surrendered for the following reasons: Objective: Delay, Not Victory: The primary goal of the 60 Filipino soldiers under General Gregorio del Pilar at Tirad Pass was to delay the advance of the pursuing American forces (numbering over 300) to allow President Emilio Aguinaldo and his retreating forces to escape into the mountains.Outnumbered and Outgunned: The Filipino defenders were vastly outnumbered and less well-equipped than the American troops.Strategic Terrain Exploited: While Tirad Pass was a strategic bottleneck, the Filipinos, despite setting up trenches and barricades, could not hold indefinitely against a determined and larger force.Flanking Maneuver: The Americans initially attempted a frontal assault but were repelled. However, they then utilized an Igorot villager named Januario Galut who knew of a secret trail that allowed them to outflank the Filipino defenders and attack them from the rear.Death of General Gregorio del Pilar: The young and charismatic General del Pilar was killed during the battle, which significantly demoralized the remaining Filipino soldiers. Eyewitness accounts suggest he was shot in the neck or heart while rallying his troops or preparing to mount his horse.Overwhelming American Force: Once the Americans managed to flank the Filipinos, the remaining defenders were quickly overwhelmed. Approximately 52 of the 60 Filipino soldiers were killed.In summary, Tirad Pass fell not because the Filipino strategy was to win the battle, but to buy time. Their valiant defense was ultimately overcome by the superior numbers and tactical maneuvering of the American forces, compounded by the loss of their leader. The survivors likely surrendered due to the overwhelming odds and the achievement of their primary objective – allowing Aguinaldo to escape temporarily.
