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Difficulty: MediumImperialism and the Spanish-American War

Source: Excerpt from the Platt Amendment (1901), Article III:

"That the government of Cuba consents that the United States may exercise the right to intervene for the preservation of Cuban independence, the maintenance of a government adequate for the protection of life, property, and individual liberty, and for discharging the obligations with respect to Cuba imposed by the treaty of Paris on the United States, now to be assumed and undertaken by the government of Cuba."

Which of the following best explains how the Platt Amendment represented a shift in United States foreign policy toward Cuba compared to the Teller Amendment passed at the start of the Spanish-American War?

  1. A
    It was drafted in response to the sinking of the Lusitania in Havana harbor, replacing the Teller Amendment to secure American sugar investments.
  2. B
    It marked a return to absolute isolationism by forbidding any future United States diplomatic or commercial agreements with foreign nations.
  3. It modified the Teller Amendment's promise of complete Cuban self-determination by establishing a legal basis for ongoing United States political oversight and military intervention.Answer
  4. D
    It signaled a rejection of the Monroe Doctrine by inviting European powers to establish a joint protectorate over Cuba.

Answer

The Platt Amendment modified the Teller Amendment's promise of complete Cuban self-determination by establishing a legal basis for ongoing United States political oversight and military intervention.
The correct answer is correct because the Platt Amendment (1901) restricted Cuba's sovereignty by granting the United States the right to intervene in Cuban affairs and limit its treaty-making powers. This directly modified the Teller Amendment (1898), which had declared that the United States would not annex Cuba and would leave the government of the island to its people.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the historical context of the Teller Amendment (1898) passed at the outbreak of the Spanish-American War.
The Teller Amendment declared that the United States had no intention of annexing Cuba and would leave its control to its people.
This establishes the baseline of initial U.S. policy goals regarding Cuban independence before the war ended.
2
Analyze the text of the Platt Amendment (1901) excerpt.
The Platt Amendment granted the United States the right to intervene in Cuba to preserve independence and maintain order.
This identifies the legal provisions that altered Cuba's post-war status.
3
Compare the two policies to determine the shift.
The change from a promise of absolute independence (Teller) to a system of intervention and political control (Platt) shows a shift toward imperialism and protectorate status.
This links the two policies to show how the U.S. modified its initial commitments.

Key Concept

The Platt Amendment's role in establishing a U.S. protectorate over Cuba and modifying the Teller Amendment.
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Topics

Imperialism and the Spanish-American War

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