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LESSON 2.A: HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

TOPICS:
1. The 19
th
Century World of Jose Rizal
I. Growth and Development of Nationalism
II. Rise and Gradual Spread of Liberalism and Democracy
III. The Industrial Revolution
IV. The Advancement of Science
V. The Resurgence of Western Imperialism
2. The Philippines under Spanish Rule
I. Administrative Organization
II. The System of Court
III. Social Structure of Filipino Society
IV. Educational System
V. Economic Institution


THE 19
TH
CENTURY WORLD OF JOSE RIZAL

I. Growth and Development of Nationalism
What is nationalism?
1. Sense of loyalty or psychological attachment that members of a nation share, based on a common language, history, culture, and desire for
independence.
2. A feeling that drives a people together as a nation. It is love of country expressed in devotion to and advocacy of national interest and
independence.

Where can we attribute the growth of nationalism?
The growth of nationalism could be attributed to two major revolutions of the earlier century: the American Revolution of 1776 and the French
Revolution of 1789. Both revolutions gave birth to the idea that an individuals loyalty has to be to his nation not to the king.

What are the main points of this ideology?
1. Nationalism has evolved from a real or imagined cultural unity, manifesting itself in a common language, history, and territory.
2. Nationalists have usually sought to turn this cultural unity into political reality so that the territory of each people coincides with its state
boundaries.
3. Nationalists believed that every nation has the right to exist in freedom and develop its character and spirit.

What are the positive and good sides of nationalism?
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1. Positive Side
a. It can foster national unity
b. It can foster progress
c. It can foster independence
2. Negative side
a. Ideas of national superiority
b. National mission can lead to aggressive crusades and counter crusades
c. Nationalism can also stress differences among peoples

When did nationalism start in Philippines?
Nationalism in the Philippines started after the unjust execution of the three priests Gomez, Burgos, and Zamora on February 17, 1872.

II. Rise and Gradual Spread of Liberalism and Democracy
What is the consequence of the growth and development of nationalism?
The rise and spread of liberalism and democracy.

What are the principal ideas of liberalism?
Liberty and Equality

What are the demands of Liberalism as a political and social philosophy?
1. Liberalism demanded representative government as opposed to autocratic monarchy.
2. Equality before the law as opposed to legally separate classes.
3. The idea of liberty also meant specific individual freedoms, freedom of the press; freedom of speech; freedom of assembly; and freedom from
arbitrary arrest.

How did the European countries establish democracy?
1. Through promulgation of laws that advance democracy;
2. Undertaking of reforms thru legislation;
3. Abolition of slavery;
4. Adoption of a liberal constitution;
5. Providing the citizens the opportunity to propose laws;
6. Adoption of manhood suffrage;
7. Granting of political, economic, and social rights to the people.

III. The Industrial Revolution
What is Industrial Revolution?
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It refers to the transformation of manufacturing brought about by the invention and use of machines; this also brought significant changes in
peoples lives. Effects brought about by this development include the following:

Positive Effects Negative Effects
1. The rise of factory system;
2. Mass production of essential and non-essential goods;
3. Improvement of peoples standard of living;
4. Greater urbanization of society;
5. Beginnings of specialization or division of labor;
6. Invention of labor-saving devices;
7. The beginnings of industrial capitalism;
8. Fostering of liberalism and nationalism; and
9. Encouragement of peoples mobility.
1. Widening of the gap between the rich and the poor;
2. Unending economic warfare between labor and capital;
3. Pollution and other environmental problems;
4. Beginning of child and women labor; and
5. Intensification of imperialistic rivalry between and among
industrialized countries.
Effect of Industrial Revolution to the Philippines it caused the displacement of the farmers from their lands.

What were the proposed measures to combat the negative effects brought by Industrial Revolution?
1. For the liberals, they used laissez-faire policy or governments non-interference in the conduct of trade and business has to be sustained for the
continuous expansion of the economy.
2. The socialists assert that the government has to control vital industries and resources. This is necessary in promoting equality of opportunity and
peoples welfare in society.
3. The communists suggest that all factor of production be owned and controlled by the government. Equality in the society could be achieved if
social classes are destroyed and dictatorship of the proletariat is established.
4. The Catholic Church calls for humane treatment of workers, respect for workers rights, and social justice for the poor. It also enjoined the
government to regulate the use of private property and provide humane and favorable working conditions for the proletariat.

IV. The Advancement of Science
The advancement of science took place in the areas of Biology, Medical Science, Physics, and Chemistry. This advancement resulted in the
development of the scientific method, where knowledge needs to be proven of a systematic and rational approach, which in effect, resulted in advances
in the sciences.

V. The Resurgence of Western Imperialism
Western nations profitably subordinated the non-western lands to their economic interests, sent forth millions of immigrants, and political
influence in Asia and vast political empires in Africa. Because of this, the world became in many ways a single unit. The European expansion diffused the
ideas and techniques of a highly developed civilization.


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B. THE PHILIPPINES UNDER SPANISH RULE
I. Administrative Organization
The National Government



Political Sub-division


Sources of abuses in the administrative system
1. Government officials who:
lacked appropriate qualifications;
had no dedication to duty and no moral strength to resist corruption.
2. Overlapping of positions
3. Appointed officials through royal appointment
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4. Collection of excessive tributes through alcalde mayor and gobernadorcillo.

Factors that contributed to the perpetuation of anomalies:
1. Distance of colony
2. Inadequate administrative supervision
3. Overlapping of powers
4. Privileges of these officials

II. The System of Court

ROYAL AUDIENCIA
Court of First Instance (Territorial Audiencia/Lower Court) Justice of the Peace Courts (Territorial Audiencia/Lower Court)

Royal Audiencia
a. highest judicial organ
b. high council to which important government affairs are referred
c. acted as the auditor of the finances of the government
d. served as court of appeals for criminal/civil cases

III. Social Structure of Filipino Society





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IV. Educational System
1. Co-education was not allowed;
2. education was in the hands of the Catholic Church;
3. no systematic government supervision of schools;
4. overemphasis on religious matters;
5. obsolete teaching methods;
6. limited curriculum;
7. poor classroom facilities and absence of teaching materials;
8. absence of academic freedom.

V. Economic Institution
Master (Elite) and Slave (Mass) Relationship


Examples of Oppressive Economic Policies:
1. Tributo the collection of tribute was levied on all Filipinos from 19 to 60 years old, with the exception of the incumbent gobernadorcillos and
cabezas and their families, the soldiers who had rendered distinguished service, the other native chieftains, and the government employees,
choir members, sacristans, and church porters. The tribute could be paid in cash or in kind.
2. Bandala it is the assignment of annual quotas to each province for the compulsory sale of produce to the government.
3. Forced labor the male natives between the ages 16 to 60 years old except for the chieftains and their eldest sons, were required to serve for
40 days each year under the system of forced labor or polo but the number of days was later on reduced to 15 days per year. s



References:
Rizal and the Development of Filipino Nationalism: A Textbook on the Life, Works, and Writings of our National hero pages 15-21
By Carlito D. Garcia, et al. (Copyright 2011) pages 15-21, 27-34
Rizal His Legacy to Philippine Society by Cecilio D. Duka and Rowena A. Pila pages13-21