Treaty of Paris (1898)
Paris, France
What happened
The United States and Spain, with a US commission led by William R. Day and a Spanish commission including Eugenio Montero Ríos. The Spanish-American War had lasted less than four months. In the treaty, Spain gave up Cuba and handed Puerto Rico and Guam to the United States. The Philippines were also ceded to the United States in exchange for $20 million.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It ended Spain's empire in the Americas and Asia and marked the rise of the United States as a world power. It started a fierce debate in the United States about imperialism.
What came next
Fighting broke out between American and Filipino forces in February 1899, and the Senate approved the treaty two days later. The Philippine-American War lasted until 1902.
Did you know?
Three of the five American negotiators were senators, who later voted on the treaty they had written.
Timeline
- 21 April 1898The Spanish-American War begins.
- 12 August 1898A peace protocol halts the fighting.
- 10 December 1898The Treaty of Paris is signed.
- 6 February 1899The US Senate ratifies the treaty.
- 1902The Philippine-American War ends.