Following the Spanish-American War, the US now controlled Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines, but it seems that each one was treated quite differently in how they were handled. Cuba was given (nominal) independence quite quickly, while the Philippines were slowly walked along that path for many decades, and Puerto Rico, of course, remained bound to the United States through today.

Does this represent conscious divergence from the start, and if so, why? Or does it more demonstrate that the United States entered the imperial game without any real, concrete plans and things were just kind of played by ear, in which case, why was a uniform policy not created?