<P> The Philippine Organic Act of 1902 provided for the establishment of a bicameral legislature composed of an upper house consisting of the Philippine Commission, an appointed body with both American and Filipino members . and a popularly elected lower house, the Philippine Assembly . The Philippines became a U.S. colony in the fashion of Europe's New Imperialism, with benevolent colonial practices . English joined Spanish as an official language, and English language education was made compulsory . In 1916, the United States passed the Philippine Autonomy Act and committed itself to granting independence to the Philippines "as soon as a stable government can be established therein ." As a step to full independence in 1946, partial autonomy as a Commonwealth was granted in 1935 . </P> <P> Preparation for a fully sovereign state was interrupted by the Japanese occupation of the Philippines during World War II . The United States suffered a total of 62,514 casualties, including 13,973 deaths in its attempt to liberate the Philippines from Imperial Japanese rule during the hard - fought Philippines campaign from 1944--1945 . Full independence came with the recognition of Philippine sovereignty by the U.S. in 1946 . </P> <P> Wake Island was annexed as empty territory by the United States in 1899 (the claim is currently disputed by the Marshall Islands). </P> <P> Germany, the United States, and Britain colonized the Samoan Islands . The nations came into conflict in the Second Samoan Civil War and the nations resolved their issues, establishing American Samoa as per the Treaty of Berlin, 1899 . The U.S. took control of its allotted region on June 7, 1900, with the Deed of Cession . Tutuila Island and Aunuu Island were ceded by their chiefs in 1900, then added to American Samoa . Manua was annexed in 1904, then added to American Samoa . Swains Island was annexed in 1925 (occupied since 1856), then added to American Samoa . (The claim is currently disputed by Tokelau, a colonial territory of New Zealand .) American Samoa was under the control of the U.S. Navy from 1900 to 1951 . American Samoa was made a formal territory in 1929 . From 1951 until 1977, Territorial Governors were appointed by the Secretary of the Interior . Immigration of Americans was never as strong as it was, for instance, in Hawaii; indigenous Samoans make up 89% of the population . The islands have been reluctant to separate from the U.S. in any manner . </P>

When was wake island acquired by the us