The key focus of the Treaty of Paris in 1898, concerning the Spanish-American War, was the transfer of control over Spanish territories to the United States. The treaty marked the end of Spain’s colonial empire in the Americas, ceding territories such as Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines to the U.S. This territorial expansion signified the emergence of the United States as a global power, allowing it to exert influence in both the Caribbean and the Pacific. The treaty also highlighted America’s shift towards imperialism, reshaping future international relations.