Treaty with Spain (Cession of Porto Rico and the Philippines) - Classic Text | Alexandria
The Treaty of Paris of 1898, signed by U.S. President William McKinley and Spanish representatives, marked a pivotal moment in American expansionism and fundamentally altered the geopolitical landscape of the Pacific and Caribbean regions. This historic agreement, which formalized Spain's cession of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines to the United States for $20 million, represented the culmination of the Spanish-American War and America's emergence as a global colonial power.
The treaty's origins can be traced to the aftermath of the Spanish-American War, which began in April 1898 following the explosion of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor and mounting tensions over Spanish colonial practices. Negotiations commenced in Paris on October 1, 1898, with President McKinley appointing a five-member commission led by former Secretary of State William R. Day. The Spanish delegation, facing military defeat and domestic political pressure, reluctantly engaged in discussions that would ultimately end their empire's four-century presence in the Western Hemisphere.
McKinley's decision to acquire the Philippines proved particularly controversial, marking a departure from traditional American anti-colonial principles. The president, initially hesitant about colonial expansion, reportedly experienced a religious epiphany that convinced him of America's duty to "educate the Filipinos, and uplift and civilize and Christianize them." This rationale, while reflective of the era's paternalistic attitudes, sparked intense domestic debate about American imperialism and its compatibility with democratic values.
The treaty's legacy continues to reverberate through contemporary international relations and territorial politics. Puerto Rico's ongoing status debates, the Philippines' complex relationship with the United States, and questions about American imperial power all trace their roots to this watershed document. Modern scholars increasingly examine the treaty through postcolonial and human rights perspectives, revealing new insights about the intersection of American exceptionalism, racial attitudes, and international law at the dawn of the twentieth century. The document stands as a testament to a crucial moment when America's role in global affairs fundamentally transformed, raising enduring questions about power, responsibility, and the nature of empire in the modern world.