Which U.S. territory was ceded by Spain to the United States in 1898?

The territory that was ceded by Spain to the United States in 1898 is Puerto Rico. This transfer occurred as a result of the Spanish-American War, which ended with the Treaty of Paris signed in December 1898. Under this treaty, Spain relinquished its control over Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines, as well as Cuba's sovereignty, effectively marking a significant expansion of U.S. territorial claims.

While Guam was also ceded to the U.S. under the same treaty, the focus here is specifically on Puerto Rico, which became a significant U.S. territory and is often discussed in the context of American citizenship and rights. Hawaii, on the other hand, was annexed by the United States in 1898 but not as a result of the Spanish-American War. American Samoa is a different territory that was ceded to the United States through a separate agreement with Germany in the early 20th century.