How can Puerto Rico Independent and Cuba become part of the unincorporated territories of the united states and in the future state 51

Geographically Cuba is closer to florida. What changes in the United States and the Spanish Empire would be necessary?

What differences would that be in the Spanish-American War?
 

B-29_Bomber

Banned
I imagine that the easiest way is for the USA to take them both and then Puerto Rico become independent from the USA.
Support of Cuban Independence was the main reason for the war.

An American Cube is hardly impossible, but the situation as outlined in the OP would need something major to happen to make it work.
 
The most plausbile way is for the US to acquire Cuba earlier. Maybe before the Civil War. They either buy it off Spain, or win it through war. Then, either they also take PR, but decide to leave it independent (concern over slave v free state balance?), or they fight a war with Spain later for PR independence.
 
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