British Occupation in the Philippines: Historical Analysis and Its Impact on Future Generations

Members:

Joshua Kent S. Horario

Christene Jane V. Subere

Ruffa Mae Villorente

Camelle Dalida

Paulin Mae V. Solis

Gene Rose Baldonado

Almira Lucio

Jeffrey Magbanua

Marnie Narciso
 CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

One of the lesser-known episodes in Philippine invasion history is the invasion by Great

Britain, which is often not discussed in textbooks or other secondary sources available in schools

and libraries. Beyond the events of the 1700s during Spanish colonization, the Battle of Manila

stands out as a significant occurrence. This major event transpired during the Spanish colonial

era. However, what were the British motives for occupying Manila while it was under Spanish

control?

During the Seven Years' War (1756–1763), Britain sought to weaken Spanish influence

in the Pacific by targeting Manila, the capital of the Spanish colony in the Philippines. In

September 1762, a British fleet led by General William Draper and Admiral Samuel Cornish

captured Manila, initiating a brief period of British control over the northern Philippines (Tracy,

1995).

The Seven Years’ War lasted from 1756-1763 (fighting in the Americas started in 1754

with the French and Indian War, but fighting didn’t begin in Europe until 1756). The conflict

between the great European powers spanned the globe, making it the first true world war. During

this time, the Philippines was a wealthy Spanish colony made famous by its grandeur and the

Manila Galleon Trade. Eager to take a piece of this wealth, Britain planned an invasion of

Manila with four store ships, three frigates, eight ships of the line, and 10,300 men.
 But first, why did the Britain chose Manila even if it’s under Spanish Control? Manila

played an important role in eighteenth-century global trade. It was on the western edge of the

Spanish trade across the Pacific, part of southern Chinese trading networks across the South

China Sea, and on the easternmost limb of British networks in the Indian Ocean. For the Spanish,

Manila was a crucial node in the galleon trade linking Spain and the Americas with China across

the Pacific. At Manila, American silver was exchanged for luxury goods from China, which were

shipped to the Americas and eventually to Spain.

The plan to occupy Manila was in part a continuation of the East India Company's China

trade. Manila was on the eastern periphery of its Indian Ocean trade, and a crucial source of

silver, valued in Canton unlike British and Indian goods. Though technically barred from trading

in Manila, British merchants regularly circumvented the ban, trading for silver that in Canton

bought the luxury goods so valued in Europe (Quiason, 1966).

The Company used Manila's occupation as a chance to carry out its intentions for a trade

base after Spain reluctantly joined the French side in the war against Britain. Additionally, the

company aimed to grab silver from the Acapulco galleon that was arriving in Manila in order to

finance investments for the next Canton trading season. Strategically speaking, the Crown saw

Manila as a negotiating chip to be exploited in post-war talks with France and Spain. The British

conquest of Manila was therefore intended to ensure British trade with Canton rather than to

secure that port's trade for Britain.

Moreover, the British occupation of Manila lasted from September 1762 until April 1764.

When British forces first arrived, they were challenged by Spanish forces (a mix of soldiers from

New Spain, probably mestizos and criollos, and people native to central Luzon), but the British

took Manila proper more easily than they had anticipated they would (Tracy, 1995). While the
British invasion of Manila in 1762 resulted in immediate aftereffects, it also laid the groundwork

for significant avenues of influence for subsequent generations under Spanish occupation.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

Generally, this historical research was conducted to analyze the outcome and the impact

of the British Occupation and the Battle of Manila (1762). Specifically, the objectives of the

study are the following;

1. To provide a comprehensive background of the events leading to the British invasion of

Manila during the Seven Years' War, including the geopolitical dynamics between

Britain, Spain, and other colonial powers.

2. To investigate the nature of British control in Manila, including administrative practices,

military strategies, and the socio-economic changes that occurred during the occupation.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study aims to analyze the British occupation of the Philippines and its impact on

subsequent generations. The findings of this research may provide valuable insights and benefits

to the following:

Historians and Researchers: could benefit from the study as it contributes to a deeper

understanding of the British occupation’s influence on Philippine history. By shedding light on

its political, economic, and cultural effects, this research enriches the broader discourse on
colonial encounters and resistance in Southeast Asia. It also encourages further investigation into

lesser-explored aspects of colonial history.

Educators and Students: may find this study useful as it enhances educational materials

on Philippine and global history. By examining the British occupation beyond conventional

narratives, this research encourages critical thinking and a more nuanced understanding of

colonial legacies. It supports the development of a more comprehensive and balanced history

curriculum.

Cultural Advocates and Heritage: Enthusiasts could benefit from the study as it

highlights the cultural and national identity shifts during and after the British occupation. By

exploring how this event shaped Filipino resistance, governance, and historical consciousness,

the study fosters appreciation for the Philippines’ resilience and evolving heritage.

The General Public may gain from this research as it promotes awareness of an often-overlooked

chapter in Philippine history. By examining the British occupation’s impact, the study

encourages greater historical curiosity and understanding of the country’s colonial past. It also

underscores the global interconnectedness of historical events.

Future Researchers: may use this study as a foundation for further exploration of the

British occupation’s long-term effects. By providing detailed analysis and insights, this research

serves as a valuable reference for those interested in colonial history, international conflicts, and

their lasting consequences in the Philippines and beyond.

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

The British occupation of the Philippines from 1762 to 1764, though brief, is a crucial

episode that has generated substantial scholarly attention due to its political, social, and long-

term impacts on Filipino society. Various historians and scholars have analyzed this period,

focusing on its effects on colonial governance, Filipino resistance, and the eventual formation of

nationalist consciousness.

Although often overshadowed by the longer Spanish colonial period, scholars argue that

this occupation had a profound influence on the socio-political landscape of the islands.

According to Cushner (1971), the British occupation exposed the vulnerabilities of Spanish

colonial rule and provided a glimpse of alternative colonial governance. The British were able to

seize Manila due to Spain's preoccupation with wars in Europe, thereby demonstrating how

external conflicts could ripple into the colonies (Cushner, 1971).

Further, Fradera (1999) highlights that the temporary British presence disrupted the

colonial economy and administration, forcing local elites, including the Filipino principalia, to

negotiate and cooperate with a new foreign power. This exposure to a different colonial authority

may have subtly influenced later resistance movements against Spain, as it showcased the

possibility of challenging Spanish dominance.

planted the seeds of early Filipino nationalism. The occupation demonstrated that Spain's hold

over the Philippines was not absolute and could be challenged by other imperial powers.

Thus, the British occupation, though brief, contributed to a legacy of colonial

contestation and laid a foundation for subsequent challenges to Spanish hegemony. It also served

as a historical reminder of the Philippines’ strategic importance in global imperial rivalries. The

British occupation of Manila during the Seven Years’ War exposed the vulnerabilities of Spanish

colonial rule in the Philippines.

According to Cushner (1971), the ease with which the British seized Manila highlighted

Spain’s military and administrative weaknesses in the region. The occupation disrupted the

Spanish colonial administration, which had long exercised control through the Manila Galleon

Trade and ecclesiastical authorities. Fradera (1999) supports this view by noting that the

occupation forced the Spanish colonial government to temporarily retreat to Pampanga, thereby

creating a political vacuum in the capital. During this period, the British attempted to establish

alliances with local elites and leaders to consolidate their hold, although these efforts were

largely unsuccessful beyond Manila (Syquia, 2005).

The presence of a new colonial power also altered the dynamics between Filipinos and

the Spanish. Ocampo (2012) discusses how the British occupation emboldened local leaders such

as Diego Silang in Ilocos to initiate revolts against Spanish colonial authority, taking advantage

of Spain’s weakened position. Silang’s rebellion, although later suppressed, reflects how the

British presence provided an opportunity for Filipinos to imagine alternatives to Spanish

domination. Schumacher (1991) adds that these revolts, although often regional and fragmented,

showed early signs of Filipino resistance that prefigured later nationalist movements.
 Additionally, Fradera (1999) emphasizes how the principalia, or Filipino local elites,

navigated the complex political environment by cooperating with both British and Spanish

authorities to protect their own interests, highlighting their role as power brokers during the

occupation. Although the British occupation was short-lived, its impacts reverberated throughout

Philippine colonial society. Cushner (1971) notes that the occupation disrupted trade, particularly

the Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade, which was the backbone of the colonial economy. This

economic disruption exposed the fragility of the Spanish colonial economic system. Phelan

(1959) also argues that Spain’s weakened control during and after the occupation led to reforms

in colonial administration, including stronger fortifications and military readiness, to prevent

future invasions.

From a broader perspective, Benton (2010) examines how such colonial disruptions

challenged the Spanish legal and administrative structures, creating a historical consciousness

among Filipinos about the impermanence of Spanish rule. Ocampo (2012) reinforces this idea by

arguing that the British occupation, though temporary, planted the early seeds of Filipino

nationalism by demonstrating that colonial rule could be contested and even overthrown.

International Context and Colonial Rivalries The British occupation of Manila cannot be

analyzed in isolation from the broader imperial rivalries of the time. Marley (2008) situates the

occupation within Britain's global strategy to undermine Spanish and French colonial holdings

during the Seven Years' War.

This view is supported by Anderson (2000), who highlights how European imperial

conflicts played out in Southeast Asia, with the Philippines becoming a pawn in the larger

struggle between colonial empires. Generational Impact and Historical Memory Finally, the

occupation’s influence extends into Filipino historical memory. Mojares (2006) argues that while
this episode is often neglected in mainstream historical narratives, it plays a critical role in

understanding the evolution of Filipino attitudes toward colonial rule. Ileto (1998) adds that the

British occupation serves as an important historical moment that shaped Filipino discourse on

colonial resistance and sovereignty. These reflections suggest that the occupation, though brief,

contributed to the long-term development of Filipino identity and resistance movements.

The British occupation of Manila was part of the larger conflict of the Seven Years' War

(1756–1763), a global battle between Britain and its allies against France and Spain. As Spain

sided with France, Britain sought to weaken Spanish influence by targeting its key colonial

possessions, including Manila (Tracy, 1995). The British invasion fleet, led by General William

Draper and Admiral Samuel Cornish, arrived in the Philippines in September 1762. Within a few

weeks, British forces captured Manila, demonstrating Spain’s vulnerability in the region (Schurz,

1939). The occupation lasted until April 1764, when the Treaty of Paris (1763) required Britain

to return Manila to Spain (Quiason, 1966).

The British occupation disrupted Spanish colonial rule by exposing its military and

administrative weaknesses. Spanish Governor-General Simon de Anda y Salazar organized a

resistance movement in Pampanga, challenging British control (Corpuz, 1989). While the British

held Manila, much of the colony remained under Spanish rule, highlighting Spain’s reliance on

decentralized governance.

The British initially sought to govern Manila using existing Spanish officials and church

leaders. However, resistance from both Spanish loyalists and local Filipinos limited their control

(Diaz-Trechuelo, 1965). According to Phelan (1959), the British struggled to implement their

policies due to the lack of cooperation from local elites and ongoing resistance outside the
capital. The brief occupation revealed weaknesses in Spain’s colonial bureaucracy, leading to

administrative reforms after Manila was returned to Spanish rule (Agoncillo, 1990).

The Philippine economy during Spanish rule depended heavily on the Manila-Acapulco

Galleon Trade, which facilitated commerce between Asia and Spanish America. The British

occupation disrupted this system, as British merchants sought to establish direct trade with China

and India (Francia, 2010). During the occupation, British forces looted Spanish treasuries,

seizing silver and goods meant for the galleon trade. This significantly weakened Spain’s

financial position in the Philippines (Legarda, 1999).

The British encouraged more open trade with foreign merchants, breaking Spain’s

restrictive economic policies. This exposure to freer trade foreshadowed later economic

liberalization under Spanish rule in the 19th century (Cushner, 1971). Filipino and Chinese

merchants benefited from this temporary shift, as it allowed them to engage in global commerce

without strict Spanish control (Quiason, 1966).

Before the British invasion, Spanish rule in the Philippines was largely uncontested.

However, the ease with which British forces captured Manila challenged the perception of

Spanish dominance (Rafael, 2000). This realization contributed to later resistance movements

against colonial rule.

The British occupation introduced new cultural elements, particularly through

interactions between Filipinos, British officers, and Indian sepoys (Cullinane, 2003). Many

Indian soldiers who accompanied the British settled in the Philippines, contributing to the

country’s cultural diversity. Although British Protestant missionaries had little time to influence
religious practices, the presence of non-Catholic officials provided Filipinos with alternative

perspectives on governance and religion (Diaz-Trechuelo, 1965).

The British occupation served as a precursor to later resistance against Spanish rule.

Simón de Anda’s leadership during the occupation became a model for future revolutionaries,

including those in the Philippine Revolution of 1896 (Agoncillo, 1990). The idea that Spanish

rule was vulnerable encouraged nationalist sentiments in the 19th century.

The British occupation indirectly influenced later Spanish economic reforms. To

strengthen control over the colony, Spain introduced economic policies that allowed for

increased foreign trade and investment (Legarda, 1999). This shift helped integrate the

Philippines into global trade networks, influencing economic policies even under American rule.

The British occupation of the Philippines was a brief but transformative event in the

country’s history. It exposed the weaknesses of Spanish colonial rule, disrupted economic

systems, and introduced new political and cultural ideas. While Spain eventually regained

control, the lessons learned from the occupation influenced later reforms and resistance

movements, shaping the country’s path toward independence.