Britannica Sources used in this answer

When did the Philippines finally gain independence from the United States?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Philippine-American War Filipino insurgents surrendering during the Philippine-American War, c. 1900.

The Philippines officially gained independence from the United States on July 4, 1946.12

While the Philippines had previously declared independence from Spain on June 12, 1898—a date now celebrated as the country's Independence Day—this sovereignty was not recognized by the United States, which subsequently established colonial rule following the Philippine-American War.2

The path to formal independence from the U.S. was established by the Tydings-McDuffie Act of 1934, which mandated a 10-year transitional period under a Commonwealth government. Although this process was interrupted by the Japanese occupation during World War II, the United States formally recognized Philippine sovereignty in 1946 through Proclamation 2695, issued by President Harry S. Truman, and the signing of the Treaty of Manila.12