The United States obtained the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico in 1898 as a result of the Treaty of Paris, which ended the Spanish-American War. Following a brief conflict that began in April 1898, the U.S. sought to expand its influence and territorial holdings. The treaty recognized the U.S. victory over Spain and ceded these territories to the United States. This acquisition marked the beginning of American colonial rule in the Pacific and the Caribbean and was significant in establishing the U.S. as a global power. It also led to the Philippine-American War, as Filipinos resisted American control in their quest for independence.