how did America get its empire? name at least two places we took over that are now American territory, but used to be their own countries

Answer 1

1. The United States acquired the territory of Puerto Rico, formerly an independent country, through the Treaty of Paris in 1898 after the Spanish-American War.
2. The United States acquired the territory of the Philippines, also formerly an independent country, as a result of the Spanish-American War and signed the Treaty of Paris in 1898.