At the end of the Spanish–American War (1898), the United States acquired the territories of Guam, the Philippines, and Puerto Rico from Spain. The newly acquired territory initially was ruled by a military government until the Foraker Act was passed in 1900. This created a civilian government in Puerto Rico and opened the doors for visitors and merchants to freely travel to the island. The new act made Puerto Rico a protectorate of the United States, removing its independence. The U.S. government therefore appointed its executive leadership, including the governor and the executive council, and allowed a thirty-five-person legislative body to be elected by the people to manage local affairs. Though the country would remain largely a tourist destination for the wealthy, many Americans were curious about the newly acquired land, given its close proximity to Florida (approximately 1,100 miles). The book A Little Journey to Puerto Rico was intended for those in secondary instruction, which would have been roughly only 11 percent of children in the United States and would have been largely dominated by the wealthy elites. The book was intended to give students and families insight into the newly acquired territory.