USA HISTORY

AMERICAN IMPERIALISM(1890 1919)

THE SPANISH AMERICAN WAR

[SOURCES]
As a result of the Spanish American War, the United States gained possession of ____

(A) ** Guam, Puerto Rico, the Phillippines

(B) Guam, Cuba, Puerto Rico

(C) Cuba, Alaska, Hawaii

(D) Puerto Rico, Cuba, Panama

EXPLANATIONS BELOW

Concept note-1: -Representatives of Spain and the United States signed a peace treaty in Paris on December 10, 1898, which established the independence of Cuba, ceded Puerto Rico and Guam to the United States, and allowed the victorious power to purchase the Philippines Islands from Spain for $20 million.

Concept note-2: -The United States was ceded Puerto Rico and Guam, liquidated its possessions in the West Indies, agreed to pay 20 million dollars for the Phillippines, while Cuba became independent.

Concept note-3: -U.S. victory in the war produced a peace treaty that compelled the Spanish to relinquish claims on Cuba, and to cede sovereignty over Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines to the United States. The United States also annexed the independent state of Hawaii during the conflict.

Concept note-4: -Following the war, the U.S. gained the Philippines, Guam, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and assured that Hawaii would also remain in its control. With coaling stations in all of these locations, the U.S. extended its navy’s range worldwide. This was something few countries in the world could claim.

Concept note-5: -Acquiring Guam was important to the United States because it gave the country further access to the Pacific. It eventually became an important American naval base, and helped the US maintain control of the Philippines.