He fought against Spain and the USA for the independence of the Philippines: Who is Emilio Aguinaldo?

(1869-1964) Filipino political leader. He fought against Spain and the USA for the independence of his country. He was born on March 22, 1869, in the Philippines, in the Cavite region; He died in Manila on February 6, 1964. He came from a mix of Chinese and Tagalog families. After studying in Manila, he became mayor of the Cavite district in 1890. In this region, he became the leader of those who fought against Spanish colonial rule. In 1897, the leaders of the independence movement were exiled by the Spanish administration. In 1898, the United States declared war on Spain and invaded the Philippines. Upon this event, Aguinaldo, who met with the US ambassadors in Hong Kong and Singapore, wanted to cooperate with the US to fight against the Spanish administration. Upon his return to the Philippines, he saw that the Spaniards were replaced by the United States and established the independent Philippine Republic. As head of state of the Philippine Republic, he fought the United States for three years. He was defeated in 1901 and forced to come to terms with the United States.

He did not play an active role in political life until 1935. In 1935, the Philippines gained an autonomous structure under the tutelage of the United States. Aguinaldo ran for president but was not elected. When Japan invaded the Philippines in 1941, it sided with Japan. In 1945, after the United States recaptured the Philippines from Japan, he was arrested for the crime of collaboration. He later took advantage of the general amnesty.

In 1950, he was elected to the State Council, acting as an advisor to the head of state. In the last years of his life, he was the head of the charity for elderly fighters who participated in the struggle for independence.

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Biography of Emilio Aguinaldo, Filipino Independence Leader

https://www.thoughtco.com/emilio-aguinaldo-biography-195653