On what date was the Treaty of Paris signed, ending the Spanish-American War?

The Treaty of Paris ending the Spanish-American War was signed on December 10, 1898. The agreement was concluded in Paris by representatives of the United States and Spain after months of fighting and negotiations.

An armistice signed on August 12 had already stopped active hostilities, but it was only a preliminary agreement. The final treaty settled the war’s political consequences: Spain relinquished sovereignty over Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines, while Cuba was placed on a path to independence under strong American influence. The United States paid Spain $20 million for the Philippines.

The treaty did not take effect on the signing date. The two countries exchanged ratifications on April 11, 1899, making that the treaty’s effective date. This distinction causes a common mix-up: August 12 marks the armistice, December 10 marks the signing, and April 11 marks ratification and entry into force.