On December 10, 1898, the United States and Spain signed the Treaty of Paris, formally ending the Spanish-American War. Under the treaty, Spain gave up control of Cuba and ceded Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines to the United States. The agreement marked a major shift in U.S. foreign policy toward overseas expansion. Supporters saw it as a step into great-power status, while critics worried it contradicted American traditions of anti-colonialism. The treaty sparked debates about imperialism, race, and citizenship for residents of the new territories. Its ratification set the stage for U.S. involvement in Caribbean and Pacific affairs in the twentieth century.
