Cervera's fleet destroyed
The American naval forces were on the watch, and soon the entire Spanish fleet was destroyed or captured—July 3, 1898.
Treaty of peace signed
The occupation by the Americans of the city of Manila, in the Philippines, in August (1898), brought peace proposals from Spain. These were accepted, the treaty being signed on the tenth of December.
The Philippines bought for twenty million dollars
This war was fought for the sake of humanity and freedom and not for gain or glory. The United States had taken the side of an oppressed people struggling for independence but she did not claim these countries as the spoils of war. She paid Spain twenty million dollars in gold for the Philippines, and at once set to work to establish schools, build good roads, help the farmers, and improve living conditions by making the government more stable and humane.
Hawaiian Islands annexed
It had long been felt, especially by the people of the Pacific States, that for both commercial and military reasons the Hawaiian Islands should belong to us. These islands—eight in all—were annexed in 1898.
Cuba a republic
Conditions in Cuba greatly improved