Assess the relative significance of factors that influenced the Senate in ratifying the Treaty of Paris in 1899.your analysis and assessment should...

Without access to the documents in this DBQ, it is
difficult to assess the relative significances of the various reasons for ratification
of the treaty.  Without reference to any documents, I would argue that the more
"selfish" reasons for ratification of the treaty were more important than the more
altruistic ones.

The selfish reasons for ratification of
the treaty involved the desire for more military power and more economic opportunities. 
The business community wanted the opportunity to use resources from and to sell to the
Philippines in particular.  Followers of Mahan felt that the new acquisitions would be
helpful in increasing the reach of US sea power.  I would argue that these were the
strongest causes of the ratification.

Behind those would
come the more altruistic reasons.  I would argue that the "white man's burden" -- the
desire to "civilize" the Filipinos and others came far behind the more pragmatic
reasons.

I would look for support for this position in the
documents.