On Feb. 6, 1899, Congress approved the Treaty of Paris, which also ceded the Philippines, Puerto Rico and Guam to the U.S.

After the Treaty of Paris was signed in December 1899, the treaty required ratification by at least a two thirds majority of the U.S. Senate. The debate regarding the ratification of the treaty ...

It also presented a dilemma of sorts for President William McKinley. The 1898 Treaty of Paris awarded the US annexation of the former Spanish colonies of Puerto Rico, Guam, Cuba, and the Philippines.