What sparked the Philippine Revolution against Spain, and who were key figures?

• A. The Katipunan movement; leaders included Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Aguinaldo; independence declared in 1898
• B. A peaceful reform movement led by Jose Rizal alone
• C. Foreign invasion with no local leadership
• D. A war against American colonizers only

Answer: (A)

The revolt was sparked by the rise of a nationalist secret society called the Katipunan, which organized Filipinos to win independence from Spain. Andres Bonifacio founded the Katipunan and helped start the armed uprising, while Emilio Aguinaldo emerged as the leading military figure in the rebellion, coordinating actions across provinces such as Cavite and later guiding the movement toward independence declared in 1898. Jose Rizal’s writings inspired Filipino national consciousness and reform ideas, but he did not lead an armed uprising, so he isn’t the spark behind the revolution. The other options describe scenarios that ignore the local leadership and the actual spark of the revolt against Spain.