Jones Act Passed by Congress Gives Philippines Autonomy (1916)
On August 29, 1916, Congress passed the Jones Act, also known as the Philippine Autonomy Act of 1916, to give the Philippines the autonomy of self-government and to prepare the country for future independence from the United States.
In 1898, the U.S. acquired the Philippines from Spain through the Treaty of Paris as a result of the Spanish – American War. In 1901, the U.S. set up a Philippine Commission made up mostly of Americans to effectively run the government of the Philippines. U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt also stated that the U.S. would assist the Philippines in setting up a system of self-government. But Roosevelt failed to mention when independence for the Philippines might occur.
Within a few years, the American public began to view U.S. involvement in the Philippines as too expensive to maintain. Roosevelt was essentially forced to take more steps toward granting independence for the Philippines. Over the next few years, Congress began to discuss a bill to do just that.
On August 29, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed the Jones Law, also known as the Philippine Autonomy Act of 1916, to replace the Philippine Organic Act of 1902. In short, the Jones Law replaced the Philippine Commission made up of mostly Americans with an elected Senate and a bill of rights. It also provided for the grant of independence to the Philippines “as soon as a stable government can be established.” But it failed to define what constituted a “stable” government.
Over the next decade the Jones Act served as the de facto constitution of the Philippines. In other words, it was not an actual constitution but served that purpose until the Philippines create its own constitution.
In 1935, the Philippines became a self-governing commonwealth. In 1942, the Philippines fell under the control of Japan during World War II. Finally, on July 4, 1946, the Philippines declared its independence and became a sovereign nation.
Today, the Philippines’ government is a representative democracy and the country has one of the largest populations in the world with around 100 million people.