When the Americans won the Spanish-American War, the Treaty of Paris was signed on December 10, 1898. Later the treaty was ratified by the U.S. Senate on February 6, 1899. As result, the United States acquired Spanish colonies outside Africa. These colonies were Guam, the Philippines and Puerto Rico. Cuba was turned into a protectorate under the Americans. Though Cuba gained its independence on May 20, 1902, the Americans enforced several restrictions on Cuba. Among these was that it was forbidden to form alliances with other countries as well allowing American intervention. The Americans also began a continuous lease on Guantanamo Bay.
