Which of the following territories did the U.S. gain as a result of the Spanish-American War?

The gain of Puerto Rico as a result of the Spanish-American War is significant for several reasons. The war, which occurred in 1898, marked a turning point in U.S. foreign policy and signaled the country's emergence as a global imperial power. After Spain's defeat, the Treaty of Paris was signed, leading to the cession of various territories by Spain to the United States.

Puerto Rico was one of the territories explicitly ceded to the U.S. in this treaty. This acquisition allowed the United States to establish a presence in the Caribbean and was pivotal for strategic military positioning and economic interests. The U.S. gained control of Puerto Rico not only for its strategic location, which served as a coaling station and naval base, but also for the economic opportunities that accompanied the territory’s agricultural resources.

While Cuba did gain independence from Spain after the war, it was not annexed by the United States. Hawaii, on the other hand, was annexed in 1898 but prior to the Spanish-American War, thus it is not related to this event. Guam, like Puerto Rico, was also ceded to the United States in the Treaty of Paris, but we focus on Puerto Rico in the context of the question to highlight its role