The Hispano-American War, fought in 1898, was a conflict between the United States and Spain. It primarily arose from the U.S. intervention in the Cuban War of Independence, where the U.S. sought to support Cuba's fight against Spanish colonial rule. The war resulted in a swift victory for the United States, leading to significant territorial gains. As a result of the war, the Treaty of Paris was signed, which ceded Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines to the United States. This marked a turning point in U.S. foreign policy, as it began to establish itself as a global power with overseas territories.