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| 1970 |
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| Economic crisis and civil unrest. | 1 |
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| 1971 |
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| Students took control of the University of the Philippines, forming the Diliman commune. Although suppressed by the government, it was a catalyst for leftist political action. | 2 |
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| 1972 |
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| Marcos proclaimed martial law. Rallies were banned, Marcos's opponents were arrested (including the journalist and politician Benigno Aquino, who had been Marcos's rival for the presidency), and the country was ruled by presidential decree. Marcos justified martial law because of the purported risk of Maoist revolution under the NPA. However, he was also attempting to safeguard his own position against challenges by other members of the oligarchy. | 3 |
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| 1973 |
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| Land reforms were proclaimed, but sugar and coconut plantations were exempted, and little change occurred. In the first years of martial law, economic growth was strong, but by 1975, disillusionment with Marcos was already considerable. | 4 |
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| 1974 |
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| The parity arrangement and tariff-free access to the U.S. market for Philippine products ended. | 5 |
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| 1976 |
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| Marcos amended the constitution to give himself supreme power. | 6 |
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| 1980 |
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| Aquino was released from jail and went to the U.S. | 7 |
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| 1981, Jan |
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| Marcos lifted martial law in response to internal and external criticism, but kept the power to rule by decree. Marcos won an election in June that was widely regarded as fraudulent. Corruption and abuses of power by the army were widespread. | 8 |
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| 1983 |
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| Benigno Aquino was assassinated on returning to the Philippines from exile in the U.S.; the Marcos regime was implicated in the killing. In October, Marcos established a commission of inquiry into the death of Aquino. Popular resentment was expressed in continual anti-Marcos rallies. The peso was devalued, symptomatic of an economic crisis accompanying huge national debts. | 9 |
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| 1984, Feb |
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| Marcos called elections for the Assembly. The National Movement for Free Elections, led by Corazon Aquino, widow of Benigno Aquino, was successful in the election, despite widespread voting fraud. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) imposed strict financial controls on the government in response to the national debt problem, leading to an internal economic crisis. | 10 |
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| 1985 |
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| Guerrilla activity by the NPA increased. A thousand NPA members were killed in internal party purges in Mindanao. Senior military officers, including Gen. Fabian Ver, were accused of killing Aquino. In November, Marcos called immediate presidential elections in response to growing public dissatisfaction. In December, Ver and other military officials were acquitted of involvement in Benigno Aquino's murder. Many Filipinos regarded the verdict as a coverup. | 11 |
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| 1986, Feb. 7 |
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| Elections were held. The National Movement for Free Elections won the popular vote, but Marcos proclaimed victory. Election fraud caused popular resentment, and mass demonstrations took place. The military sided with demonstrators in the “PEOPLE POWER REVOLUTION.” Marcos and his family went into exile in Hawaii. Corazon Aquino took power, releasing political prisoners and sacking Marcos appointees in the judiciary and government, including all local officials elected in 1980. A new constitution was drafted, and a cease-fire with the NPA was called. Coup attempts against Aquino were defeated. New credit from the IMF was arranged, but the economy remained stagnant. | 12 |
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