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Spain officially hands over Puerto Rico to the United States in the Treaty of Pa
Featured Event 1899 Event

April 11

Spain Cedes Puerto Rico: U.S. Expansion in the Caribbean

Spain officially hands over Puerto Rico to the United States in the Treaty of Paris, ending four centuries of Spanish colonial rule. This transfer instantly transforms the island into a strategic American naval hub and launches decades of debate over its political status that continues today.

April 11, 1899

127 years ago

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What Else Happened on April 11

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