Why the US paid Spain $20 Million eventhough the US is the victor in the Spanish-American War?

Answer 1

We bought The Phillipines from Spain for that 20 million.

Answer 2

To my belief we were the winners of the war but it doesnt exactly give us right to take their land we believed in some sort of compensation and thats where the Phillipines, Cuba and some other small islands were paid for by the U.S. for 20 million. Otherwise the war really had nothing to do with us buying the countries.

Answer 3

when we go to war we pay for the war, and then we compensate the loser, because we are compassionate people.