On October 18, 1898, the United States formally took possession of Puerto Rico from Spain under the terms of the Treaty of Paris that ended the Spanish–American War. U.S. troops had already occupied the island, but this date marked the official transfer of authority. Puerto Rico became an unincorporated territory of the United States. Over time, Congress passed laws defining its political status and the rights of its residents. Debates about statehood, independence, and territorial status continued into the twenty-first century. The transfer in 1898 remains a key moment in the growth of U.S. influence in the Caribbean.
