The Treaty of Paris was a peace treaty between Spain and the United States that ended the Spanish-American War. It was signed on December 10, 1898, in Paris, France.
Provisions of the Treaty
* Spain ceded Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines to the United States.
* The United States paid Spain $20 million for the Philippines.
* Spain relinquished all sovereignty over Cuba.
* The United States agreed to assume responsibility for the Cuban public debt.
* Spain agreed to allow the United States to build and operate a naval base at Guantánamo Bay in Cuba.
Consequences of the Treaty
The Treaty of Paris had a number of consequences, both for the United States and for Spain.
* The United States gained control of a number of overseas territories, which increased its global power and influence.
* Spain lost its last remaining colonies in the Western Hemisphere, marking the end of its empire.
* The treaty contributed to the rise of the United States as a major world power.
* The acquisition of the Philippines led to the Philippine-American War, which lasted from 1899 to 1902.
* The treaty also contributed to the Spanish Civil War, which began in 1936.