American colonial rule

American colonial rule refers to the period when the United States established control over territories outside its mainland, such as the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Guam, and others, following the Spanish-American War of 1898. The U.S. governed these areas through military and civil administrations, often integrating them into its political, economic, and legal systems. This involved establishing infrastructure, education, and governance, but also raising issues of sovereignty, cultural change, and resistance from local populations. The period marked a shift from traditional colonies to a new form of overseas influence, balancing interests of imperial expansion with evolving ideas of self-governance.