<P> In 1898, the United States achieved victory in the Spanish--American War with Spain, ending the Spanish colonial era . Spanish possession and rule of its remaining colonies in the Americas ended in that year with its sovereignty transferred to the United States . The United States took occupation of Cuba, the Philippines, and Puerto Rico . Puerto Rico continues to be a possession of the United States, now officially continues as a self - governing unincorporated territory . </P> <P> It has been estimated that over 1.86 million Spaniards emigrated to Latin America in the period between 1492 and 1824, with millions more continuing to immigrate following independence . </P> <P> In Hispaniola, the indigenous Taíno pre-contact population before the arrival of Columbus of several hundred thousand had declined to sixty thousand by 1509 . Although population estimates vary, Dominican friar Bartolomé de las Casas, the "Defender of the Indians" estimated there were 6 million (6,000,000) Taíno and Arawak in the Caribbean at the time of Columbus's arrival in 1492 . </P> <P> The population of the Native Amerindian population in Mexico declined by an estimated 90% (reduced to 1--2.5 million people) by the early 17th century . In Peru the indigenous Amerindian pre-contact population of around 6.5 million declined to 1 million by the early 17th century . The overwhelming cause of decline in both Mexico and Peru was infectious diseases, although the brutality of the Encomienda also played a significant part in the population decline . </P>

Who were the spanish explorers who claimed new colonies