Final answer:
Commodore George Dewey's victory at Manila Bay on May 1, 1898, resulted in the United States acquiring the Philippines from Spain, marking a significant extension of U.S. colonial influence.
Step-by-step explanation:
On May 1, 1898, during the Spanish-American War, Commodore George Dewey led the United States naval forces to a decisive victory over the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay, Philippines. With this triumph, the U.S. gained the Philippines from Spain, a significant territorial acquisition that marked the United States' emergence as a colonial power.
The victory at Manila was not only strategically significant for its naval base implications in Asia but also underscored the U.S. military's preparedness and the execution of a broader strategy to extend American influence in the Pacific Ocean and aid industrial expansion into China.
The events following the naval win saw Spain ceding not only the Philippines but also other possessions, such as Guam and Puerto Rico, to the United States. While Cuba was recognized as independent in December 1898, it came under US influence, and the other territories continued to shape the strategic reach and political landscape of the U.S. for years to come.