Which territory became a US possession after the Spanish-American War?

The territory that became a U.S. possession after the Spanish-American War is The Philippines. The war, which took place in 1898, was fundamentally a conflict between Spain and the United States over the liberation of Cuba from Spanish rule. However, during the course of the war, the U.S. military engaged in battles not only in Cuba but also in the Philippines, where American forces successfully defeated Spanish troops.

Following the war, the Treaty of Paris was signed, which concluded hostilities. Under this treaty, Spain ceded the Philippines to the United States in exchange for $20 million. This acquisition marked a significant expansion of U.S. territory and influence in the Pacific region and initiated a period of American colonization in the Philippines.

In contrast, Guatemala and Haiti were not territories involved in the Spanish-American War and did not become U.S. possessions as a direct result of this conflict. Although Cuba was granted independence after the war, it was subjected to significant U.S. influence under the Platt Amendment, but it remained a sovereign nation rather than a U.S. possession. Thus, The Philippines is the territory that directly became a U.S. possession as a consequence of the war.