Final answer:
The United States gained Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines from Spain through the Treaty of Paris after the Spanish-American War. Cuba became independent but remained influenced by U.S. policies. These territorial gains marked the emergence of the U.S. as a colonial power.
Step-by-step explanation:
The United States gained significant territories as a result of their victory in the Spanish-American War. The Treaty of Paris, which formally ended the war in December 1898, resulted in Spain ceding its colonies of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines to the United States.
Cuba also became independent, but it remained under U.S. influence through the Platt Amendment, which allowed the U.S. to intervene in Cuban affairs. Spain's surrender to the U.S. rather than Filipino insurgents shifted control to the Americans and USD 20 million was paid for the Philippines.
In this conflict, the U.S. military overcame challenges such as fighting in a tropical climate far from home, and they succeeded largely due to their naval power, which effectively cut off Spanish reinforcements and led to the decisive defeat of Spanish forces.
Moreover, the United States emerged as a colonial power with these new acquisitions, marking a significant expansion of American influence and signaling its arrival as a major player on the world stage at the dawn of the twentieth century.