The major outcome of the Spanish-American War, fought in 1898, was the emergence of the United States as a global power. The war resulted in the U.S. defeating Spain and consequently acquiring territories such as Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines. This signified a shift in U.S. foreign policy towards imperialism and a more assertive role on the world stage. The Treaty of Paris, which concluded the war, also reflected the decline of Spanish influence in the Americas and marked the transition of the U.S. into an empire.