Imperial Power of the U.S

The United States emerged as a major imperial and colonial power after the brief Spanish-Cuban-American War. The United States easily defeated Spain and took control and possession of Cuba and Puerto Rico. After the U.S. navy destroyed the Spanish fleet at Manila in a single day, the United States also took possession of Guam and the Philippines, Spain's last colonies in the Pacific, to prevent them from falling under German or Japanese control. The United States quickly established colonial governments in most of its new possessions.