Final answer:
The Spanish lost control over the Philippines following the Spanish-American War, where they were defeated in the Battle of Manila Bay. The Treaty of Paris saw Spain ceding the Philippines to the U.S. for $20 million, leading to a period of American rule until Philippine independence in 1946.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Spanish lost control over the Philippines largely due to the outcome of the Spanish-American War. The Battle of Manila Bay was a significant event where U.S. Commodore George Dewey decimated the entire Spanish fleet, leading to the surrender of the Spanish governor of the Philippines.
This defeat was instrumental in ending Spanish colonial rule. However, the Filipino people, led by Emilio Aguinaldo, had also fought for their independence against the Spanish. After the war, the Treaty of Paris was signed wherein Spain ceded the Philippines to the United States for $20 million.
The Filipinos, expecting independence, resisted American control which resulted in the Philippine-American War. Ultimately, the United States granted the Philippines independence in 1946.