Published immediately following the Spanish-American War, this work serves as a primary source documenting the transition of Spain’s former colonies—the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Cuba—along with the recently annexed Hawaii, into the American sphere of influence. Trumbull White, an American journalist and war correspondent, provides a detailed contemporary account of the military engagements, such as the Battle of Manila Bay and the Siege of Santiago, while also offering extensive socio-economic surveys of the islands’ resources and cultures. The text reflects the late 19th-century American "expansionist" perspective, framing the acquisition of these territories as a "holy war" and a civilizing mission intended to replace centuries of Spanish misrule with American democratic principles and commercial progress. Its inclusion of over 200 photographs and illustrations makes it a significant visual record of the era.
Our new possessions: a graphic account, descriptive and historical, of the Philippine Islands, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and the Hawaiian Islands