The U.S. military conducted a number of campaigns to suppress Muslim
insurgency from 1899 to 1914. These operations were heavily criticized due
to the large numbers of civilian casualties associated with them. One account even goes as far as saying
that the 45-caliber pistol was developed specifically for hunting down rampaging Muslim bandits, formally
called Tulisanes, or outlaws, before the brand of Moro was adopted.
3
After almost fifty years under American rule, the Philippines were finally granted their independence
on July 4, 1946 10. The transfer of power from American to Filipino rule brought about its own problems
between the Catholic and Muslim inhabitants of the Philippines.