Moro Province

After the dissolution of the Republic of Zamboanga and others part of Mindanao are under US rule, the US civil government led by Governor William Howard Taft^{[citation needed]} authorized the creation of the Moro Province that includes "all of the territory of the Philippines lying south of the eight parallel of latitude, excepting the island of Palawan and the eastern portion of the northwest peninsula of Mindanao."^[4] Moro Province was created by the virtue of Act No. 787 on June 1, 1903.^[5] Major General Leonard Wood, with the capacity of commander of the Army Department of Mindanao-Sulu was appointed governor of the province on August 6, 1903.

The Moro Province provided chances to carry out the American mandate. Slavery was abolished, and the common people were protected from their traditional leaders and other threats. A tribal ward court system was created to introduce American justice. Selected Moro leaders gained limited power, while public works and education were expanded. Americans and Christian Filipinos were encouraged to settle in "Moroland" to help improve agriculture among Muslim Filipinos.^[6]

The response of the Moro people to U.S. military rule was mixed, with some groups supporting the U.S. while others resisted. This varied response is due to the diverse background of the Moros. Historian Patricio N. Abinales noted that the U.S. formed alliances with certain leaders in the divided Muslim communities, using a strategy of both suppression and cooperation. They drew from their experiences with Native Americans, allowing some collaborators to maintain arms and control their communities.^[7] Some alliances with Moro leaders worked out, but many did not. Moros continued to fight for their freedom, even after the Philippine-American war ended in 1902. The US military labeled the uprisings from 1903-1913 as "Moro rebellions". One significant event was the Bud Dajo massacre of 1906, where over 600 Moros, mostly women, were killed. The U.S. had better weapons while Moros mostly used blades and tried to get firearms. Given the circumstances, the Moro Rebellions were brutal killings of those who resisted.^[7]

By 1913, Governor John J. Pershing agreed that the Moro Province needed to transition to civil government. This was prompted by the Moros' personalistic approach to government, which was based on personal ties rather than a respect for an abstract office. To the Moros, a change of administration meant not just a change in leadership but a change in regime, and was a traumatic experience. Rotation within the military meant that each military governor could serve only for a limited time. Until 1911, every district governor and secretary had been a military officer. By November 1913, only one officer still held a civil office – Pershing himself. In December 1913, Pershing was replaced as governor of Moro Province by a civilian, Frank Carpenter.

On July 23, 1914, the Moro Province was officially replaced by an agency named the Department of Mindanao and Sulu including the whole island of Mindanao except Misamis and Surigao. The agency was tasked to administer all Muslim-dominated areas in the territory. Frank Carpenter remained as governor of the agency.