The mock battle for Manila involved coordinated military efforts between Spanish and American forces, creating an illusion of combat to negotiate control over the city. On August 13, 1898, Spanish troops, facing overwhelming American naval and military presence, chose to surrender, ultimately to ensure that the city would not be captured by Filipino rebels who were fighting for their own independence from Spanish rule. This decision underscored the tensions in the colonial governance of the Philippines where various factions had differing interests regarding control of the territory.

The battle was, in part, a theatrical performance. American forces, led by Major General Wesley Merritt, orchestrated the engagement to demonstrate their strength and to compel Spain to capitulate. The surrender was met with mixed feelings as the Filipino revolutionaries, under the leadership of figures like Emilio Aguinaldo, were both relieved yet frustrated by the outcome. They had fought valiantly against Spanish colonialism and were eager for their own sovereignty, but international dynamics were quickly overshadowing their aspirations.

The event took place within the larger context of the Spanish-American War, a conflict catalyzed by the explosion of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor, which led to a surge of American sentiment against Spanish rule. As the conflict unfolded, the result of the mock engagement in Manila solidified the United States’ position as a colonial power in the Pacific while simultaneously challenging the legitimacy of the Filipino struggle for independence. The Spanish loss facilitated the signing of the Treaty of Paris, which would pave the way for American acquisition of the Philippines, along with Puerto Rico and Guam.