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Difficulty: MediumImperialism and the Spanish-American War

Source: United States Congress, Teller Amendment, April 20, 1898

"...the United States hereby disclaims any disposition or intention to exercise sovereignty, jurisdiction, or control over said Island except for the pacification thereof, and asserts its determination, when that is accomplished, to leave the government and control of the Island to its people."

The excerpt was most likely included in the joint resolution declaring war on Spain to achieve which of the following goals?

  1. To assure anti-imperialists and foreign nations that the United States would not annex Cuba after the warAnswer
  2. B
    To justify military intervention as retaliation for the sinking of the Lusitania
  3. C
    To establish a formal military alliance with Caribbean nations to enforce the Monroe Doctrine
  4. D
    To declare a U.S. policy of active colonization in Cuba under the provisions of the Monroe Doctrine

Answer

The resolution was included to assure anti-imperialists and foreign nations that the United States would not annex Cuba after the war.
The correct option is correct because the Teller Amendment specifically declared that the United States would not annex Cuba, which was meant to placate anti-imperialists at home and reassure foreign nations that the war was not motivated by territorial conquest.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the source text
The source is the Teller Amendment from 1898, in which the United States disclaims any intention to exercise sovereignty or control over Cuba after it is pacified.
Understanding the core claim of the text is essential to determining its purpose.
2
Contextualize the document historically
In 1898, as the U.S. prepared for war with Spain, many domestic critics (anti-imperialists) and European nations feared that the U.S. intended to use the conflict to acquire Cuba as an imperial territory.
Connecting the source to contemporary political debates explains why the disclaimer was necessary.
3
Determine the primary goal of the disclaimer
By legally promising not to annex Cuba, Congress aimed to secure broad support for the war effort and present the intervention as a mission of liberation.
This links the text's contents directly to its intended political and strategic impact.

Key Concept

Teller Amendment and Imperialism Debates
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

Imperialism and the Spanish-American War

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