Philippine Bill of 1902

The Philippine Bill of 1902 was a law enacted by the U.S. Congress to establish a government structure for the Philippines, which was then a colony of the United States. It created a civilian government with an elected Philippine Assembly, giving Filipinos a voice in their local affairs, while the U.S. maintained control over military and foreign policy. The bill aimed to prepare Filipinos for eventual independence by gradually granting them more self-governance. Overall, it marked a key step in transitioning the Philippines from direct American control to a more autonomous political system.