1898
The Treaty of Paris was signed on December 10, 1898. By the Treaty, Cuba gained its independence and Spain ceded the Philippines, Guam and Puerto Rico to the United States for the sum of US$20 million.

All Spanish ships were destroyed bringing forth the reason for surrender. The Americans began their siege of the city. U.S. artillery sited on the heights pounded the city, while U.S. forces supported by Cuban rebels choked off all water and food supplies to the city.

July 17, 1898
The Santiago Surrender Tree Memorial is located in Santiago, Cuba. The monument marks the site at which Spanish forces, led by Gen. Toral, surrendered Santiago de Cuba to U.S. forces, led by Gen. William Shafter, on July 17, 1898 during the Spanish American War.

On July 1, the Americans won the Battle of San Juan Hill, and the next day they began a siege of Santiago. On July 3, the Spanish fleet was destroyed off Santiago by U.S. warships under Admiral William Sampson, and on July 17 the Spanish surrendered the city—and thus Cuba—to the Americans.

The Battle of Santiago de Cuba was a decisive naval engagement that occurred on July 3, 1898 between an American fleet, led by William T. The crushing loss sealed American victory in the Cuban theater of the war and ensuring the independence of Cuba from Spanish rule.

Two weeks later (July 16), Spain surrendered Santiago de Cuba. The U.S. victory ended the war, suppressed all Spanish naval resistance in the New World, and enhanced the reputation of the U.S. Navy. Losses: Spanish, 474 dead or wounded, 1,800 captured, all 6 ships lost; U.S., 1 dead, 1 wounded, no ships lost of 8.

The war ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris on December 10, 1898. As a result Spain lost its control over the remains of its overseas empire — Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Philippines Islands, Guam, and other islands.

Two weeks later (July 16), Spain surrendered Santiago de Cuba. The U.S. victory ended the war, suppressed all Spanish naval resistance in the New World, and enhanced the reputation of the U.S. Navy.

In France, the Treaty of Paris is signed, formally ending the Spanish-American War and granting the United States its first overseas empire.

By the Treaty, Cuba gained its independence and Spain ceded the Philippines, Guam and Puerto Rico to the United States for the sum of US$20 million.