Which of the following possessions were NOT turned over to the United States by Spain at the end of the Spanish-American war?

The situation regarding Cuba after the Spanish-American War is pivotal to understanding the outcome of the conflict between the United States and Spain. While Spain relinquished control over Cuba following the war, it did not immediately turn over sovereignty to the United States. Instead, Cuba was declared an independent country, but the United States maintained significant influence over its affairs, particularly through the Platt Amendment, which allowed for U.S. intervention in Cuban sovereignty under certain conditions.

Conversely, Puerto Rico and the Philippines were indeed ceded to the United States as a result of the Treaty of Paris, which officially ended the war. The acquisition of these territories marked a significant expansion of U.S. influence and territorial holdings. Thus, the key aspect is that Cuba, while liberated from Spanish rule, was not officially turned over to the United States like the other territories. This makes the point clear that the nature of each territory’s status post-war varied significantly, with Cuba maintaining its independence though under U.S. oversight, whereas Puerto Rico and the Philippines became American territories.