Military Government of the Philippine Islands

The Military Government of the Philippine Islands (Spanish: Gobierno militar de los Estados Unidos en las Islas Filipinas; Tagalog: Pamahalaang Militar ng Estados Unidos sa Kapuluang Pilipinas) was a military government in the Philippines established by the United States on August 14, 1898, a day after the capture of Manila, with General Wesley Merritt acting as military governor. General Merrit established this military government by proclamation on August 14, 1898.

During military rule (1898–1902), the U.S. military commander governed the Philippines under the authority of the U.S. president as Commander-in-Chief of the United States Armed Forces. After the appointment of a civil Governor-General upon the suppression of the First Philippine Republic, the procedure developed that as parts of the country were firmly put under American control, responsibility for the area would be passed to an American-installed civil government.

General Merritt was succeeded by General Elwell S. Otis as military governor, who in turn was succeeded by General Arthur MacArthur. Major General Adna Chaffee was the final military governor. The position of military governor was abolished in July 1902, after which the civilian office Governor-General became the sole executive authority in the Philippines.

The military government, initially with soldiers as teachers, reopened civil and criminal courts and established its own, including a supreme court; and local governments were established as towns and provinces were occupied. The first American-sponsored election was conducted by General Harold W. Lawton on May 7, 1899, in Baliuag, Bulacan.