How did Puerto Rico become a US Territory

Since the Spanish-American War in 1898, the US has held Puerto Rico, which was formally given to it as a colony and territory in the Treaty of Paris in 1899. The relationship has gone through different stages, sometimes leading to tensions between the territory's leaders and the US government.

US Interests in Puerto Rico

United States interests in Puerto Rico, and the wider Caribbean for that matter, had increased to a high level by 1890, as the US emerged as a major naval power. By this time, there were interests to acquire Panama or another nearby country to create the Panama canal, while others in the US government had advocated for Caribbean bases such as Cuba and Puerto Rico. By 1894, the Naval War College had anticipated that war with Spain, which had controlled Puerto Rico and Cuba, would likely occur. Puerto Rico's valuable sugar crops were also of interest, particularly as the sugar industry was not developed within the US. On February 15, 1898, the USS Maine mysteriously sank, after having been dispatched to monitor events in Cuba which had revolted against Spain. This led the US to declare war and resulted in a relatively quick victory as the US had decisive naval power. On July 25, 1898, US forces landed near Guánica, Puerto Rico. To this day, this landing is commemorated as Constitution Day in Puerto Rico, which was previously called Occupation Day as the start of US presence on the island.