The Treaty of Paris, signed Dec. 10, 1898, also granted Cuba its freedom. Its ratification was front page news in the Deseret Evening News. For Utahns, the end of the war meant a great deal.

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.

1898 - Treaty of Paris concludes the Spanish-American War. Spain sells the Philippines to the United States for $20 million. The Philippines becomes a protectorate of the United States.

The cultural ramifications of a resale would be profound. The Virgin Islands’ residents have developed a unique identity that blends their Caribbean heritage with American citizenship. A transfer of ...