what were two ways that the united states acquired more territory
Territorial evolution of the United States
Desires for expansion into Spanish territories like Cuba led to the Spanish -- American War in 1898 , in which the United States gained Guam , Puerto Rico , and the Philippines , and occupied Cuba for several years . American Samoa was acquired by the United States in 1900 after the end of the Second Samoan Civil War . The United States purchased the U.S. Virgin Islands from Denmark in 1917 . Guam and Puerto Rico remain territories ; the Philippines became independent in 1946 , after being a major theater of World War II . Following the war , many islands were entrusted to the U.S. by the United Nations , and while the Northern Mariana Islands remain a U.S. territory , the Marshall Islands , Federated States of Micronesia , and Palau emerged from the trust territory as independent nations . The last major international change was the acquisition in 1904 , and return to Panama in 1979 , of the Panama Canal Zone , a region of American sovereignty to build and run the Panama Canal . The final cession of power over the region was made to Panama in 1999 . 
Desires for expansion into Spanish territories like Cuba led to the Spanish -- American War in 1898 , in which the United States gained Guam , Puerto Rico , and the Philippines , and occupied Cuba for several years . American Samoa was acquired by the United States in 1900 after the end of the Second Samoan Civil War . The United States purchased the U.S. Virgin Islands from Denmark in 1917 . Guam and Puerto Rico remain territories ; the Philippines became independent in 1946 , after being a major theater of World War II . Following the war , many islands were entrusted to the U.S. by the United Nations , and while the Northern Mariana Islands remain a U.S. territory , the Marshall Islands , Federated States of Micronesia , and Palau emerged from the trust territory as independent nations . The last major international change was the acquisition in 1904 , and return to Panama in 1979 , of the Panama Canal Zone , a region of American sovereignty to build and run the Panama Canal . The final cession of power over the region was made to Panama in 1999 .
Desires for expansion into Spanish territories like Cuba led to the Spanish - American War in 1898. The United States purchased the U.S. Virgin Islands from Denmark in 1917.
Desires for expansion into Spanish territories like Cuba led to the Spanish -- American War in 1898 , in which the United States gained Guam , Puerto Rico , and the Philippines , and occupied Cuba for several years . The United States purchased the U.S. Virgin Islands from Denmark in 1917 .