United States of Enotita

     This was based on Reader's Digest: The Story of the Filipino People - Parts 6 and 7 ( Under the Stars and Stripes  and The Japanese Occupation ) by Milagros C. Guerrero and Ricardo T. Jose.      Now that I think about it, I would call the Spanish occupation "the first storm," the American occupation "the second storm," and the Japanese occupation "the third storm." The "between the storm" parts would be 1898 - 1901 and 1935 - 1941.  Part 1 - The Second Storm (1901 - 1935)     After the Philippine-American War, the United States turned the Philippines into a colony. They gained it in the Treaty of Paris along with Puerto Rico, Cuba, and some other islands. The Americans needed to keep it away from Spain, France, and Germany.      Under Spanish rule, the Filipinos were taught Catholicism. But the Americans were mainly Methodist (a sect of Protestantism). American missionaries were sent to the Philippines, although most ...

     This was based on Reader's Digest: The Story of the Filipino People (Part 3) by Jose S. Arcilla.  Magellan's Early Expeditions and the Way to Asia     There was a man named Ferdinand Magellan. He was born in Portugal to the lower part of the nobility. In 1511, Magellan explored India, Malacca, and Indonesia.      Now, here's the problem. To go to Asia, he would have to go around Africa. In 1492, Christopher Columbus, an Italian explorer working for Spain, explored the Americas. To the Europeans, it was a new continent. Since most explorers knew the world is round, they knew Asia would be on the other side.       From Portugal to Spain     One time, Magellan was fighting the Moors in North Africa. He won, and asked for a raise from King Manuel of Portugal. But the king declined.      Now, to understand this next part, you have to know the rivalry between Spain and Portugal over colonization. Sp...