how did the us get puerto rico

The United States acquired Puerto Rico as a result of the Spanish-American War in 1898. On July 25, 1898, U.S. troops invaded Puerto Rico, and the island was officially ceded to the United States by Spain under the Treaty of Paris signed on December 10, 1898, which ended the war. Puerto Rico was initially ruled by the U.S. military, followed by civilian government established under the Foraker Act of 1900. In 1917, Puerto Ricans were granted U.S. citizenship, and in 1952, Puerto Rico became a U.S. commonwealth with a constitution providing for internal self-government, although it remains an unincorporated territory of the U.S.