William Jennings Bryan leads the debate in the Senate

Source: William Jennings Bryan Campaigning for the Presidency, National Archives

The final outcome in the Senate was unsure until Senator William Jennings Bryan championed the cause for annexation. A very religious man, Senator Bryan believed the "uncivilized people" would be greatly served by Christianity, and like many others, he was eager to end the Spanish American War. By just one vote, the Senate ratified the treaty on February 6th, 1899, and approved annexation of the Philippines. America had officially become an imperialist nation.