What effect did the Spanish-American War have on American foreign policy?

The Spanish-American War significantly reshaped American foreign policy by marking the United States as a burgeoning world power and expanding its influence beyond its continental borders. This conflict, which took place in 1898, resulted in a swift victory for the United States and led to the acquisition of territories such as Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines.

The war signified a turning point where the United States moved away from its previous stance of intervening predominantly in the Western Hemisphere to actively engaging in global affairs. With the newly acquired territories, the U.S. began to establish itself as an imperial power, demonstrating its military and economic capabilities on a global stage. This shift paved the way for increased American interventions in international politics and set the foundation for subsequent policies, including those during the 20th century involvement in both World Wars.

In contrast, establishing isolationism or ending colonialism in the Philippines does not accurately reflect the outcomes of the war; instead, the U.S. maintained control over the Philippines and implemented policies that exemplified an imperialistic approach. Additionally, the League of Nations came about after World War I, not as a direct result of the Spanish-American War, underlining that the war's most significant effect was to elevate the United States to a