What were the outcomes of the Spanish-American War for the United States and its territories?

• A. The U.S. acquired Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines; Cuba gained formal independence in name but remained under American influence.
• B. The U.S. annexed Hawaii and Puerto Rico only; Cuba became a state.
• C. The U.S. acquired Alaska and the Philippines; Cuba was colonized by Spain.
• D. The U.S. gained control of all of Latin America.

Answer: (A)

After the Spanish-American War, the United States stepped onto the world stage as a power with overseas territories. The peace treaty brought Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines under U.S. sovereignty, expanding American influence across the Caribbean and Pacific. Cuba, while technically independent in name, remained under strong U.S. influence through mechanisms like the Platt Amendment, which limited Cuba’s sovereignty and allowed U.S. intervention when needed. This shift marked a move toward imperial-style relationships and set the pattern for U.S. involvement abroad for years to come. Hawaii had already been annexed around the same period, and Alaska had been acquired earlier, so those aren’t part of this war’s direct outcomes. Cuba did not become a U.S. state, and the United States did not gain control of all of Latin America.