What event led most directly to the Bataan Death March?

The Bataan Death March was primarily triggered by the surrender of American and Filipino forces to the Japanese Imperial Army in April 1942 after the intense Battle of Bataan during World War II. Following the surrender, approximately 75,000 troops were forced to march about 65 miles under brutal conditions, including extreme heat, starvation, and violence from their captors. This tragic event became a symbol of the harsh treatment of prisoners of war and highlighted the dire circumstances faced by Allied forces in the Philippines.