What was the outcome of the Treaty of Paris in 1898?

The Treaty of Paris in 1898 marked a significant turning point in U.S. foreign policy and territorial expansion. It concluded the Spanish-American War and resulted in the United States acquiring Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines. This acquisition signified a dramatic shift as the U.S. transitioned from a nation focused primarily on continental expansion to one that engaged in overseas empire-building.

The acquisition of these territories allowed the United States to establish a stronger presence in the Caribbean and the Pacific. Puerto Rico became a key strategic location for maintaining a naval presence in the Caribbean, while Guam served as a pivotal stopover for U.S. naval forces in the Pacific. The Philippines, despite being farther away, presented both economic opportunities and military strategic advantages in Asia, expanding American influence into the Pacific and Asia.

This treaty and its outcomes were indicative of the period's imperialist tendencies as the United States began to assert itself as a global power, amidst debates in American society about the implications of imperialism and the responsibilities of such expansion.