The overwhelming victory of the United States over Spain in 1898 made the United States a world power. The U.S took control over the Philippine Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam and a few other places. The war was a turning point in that it caused the United States to become an imperialist power. The U.S. had to maintain a large navy to protect its overseas colonies. It put America on what became a collision course with Japan, which was on its own path to imperialism in the Pacific. So the American victory over Spain set the U.S. on a couse of imperialism. I hope that this has been a help to you.
