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You are here: Home / History / Why did the United States invade Puerto Rico in 1898?

Why did the United States invade Puerto Rico in 1898?

February 15, 2020 by Karen Hill

From April to August 1898, the United States waged a war with Spain called the Spanish American War.

The United States went to war in part to help Cuba win its struggle for independence from Spain.

But the war was also prompted by American imperialists who wanted the United States to become a world power, with overseas colonies and global interests. The empire builders got their way.

As a result of the Spanish American War, the United States won control of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Spain’s South Pacific colonies of Guam and the Philippines.

Cuba and the Philippines have since become independent countries, but Guam and Puerto Rico are still U.S. possessions.

Related Facts

  • What was the European Age of Exploration?
  • Where Is Puerto Rico Located, How Many People Live There, and Is Puerto Rico Part of the United States?
  • How many Islands does Puerto Rico have and What is the Capital of Puerto Rico?
  • Why isn’t Puerto Rico a state and What would statehood mean for Puerto Rico?
  • When Did Puerto Rico Become a United States Territory and When Was the Treaty of Paris Signed?
  • Why did Spain want to keep Puerto Rico before it was ceded to the U.S.?

Filed Under: History

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

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