Platt Amendment

Definition

The Platt Amendment was a 1901 provision attached to a congressional appropriations bill that placed restrictions on the relationship between the United States and Cuba following the Spanish-American War. It outlined the terms under which the U.S. would withdraw its troops from Cuba and allowed the U.S. to intervene in Cuban affairs.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Platt Amendment gave the U.S. the right to intervene in Cuban affairs and to lease or purchase lands for naval stations and coaling stations.
2. It required Cuba to contract no public debt without the consent of the United States and to allow the U.S. to approve Cuba's treaties and acts.
3. The amendment was seen as a way for the U.S. to maintain influence and control over Cuba following the Spanish-American War.
4. The Platt Amendment was incorporated into the Cuban constitution in 1901 and remained in effect until its repeal in 1934.
5. The Platt Amendment was a key aspect of U.S. imperialism and the country's desire to exert influence over its neighbors in the Caribbean and Latin America.

Review Questions

• Explain how the Platt Amendment was connected to the Spanish-American War and the U.S. desire for an overseas empire.
  • The Platt Amendment was a direct result of the Spanish-American War, which led to the U.S. acquisition of Cuba as a territory. The amendment allowed the U.S. to maintain a strong presence and influence in Cuba, effectively establishing it as a protectorate. This was part of the U.S. government's broader imperialist policies, as the country sought to expand its power and control over territories and resources in the Caribbean and Latin America following the war.
• Analyze how the Platt Amendment impacted the relationship between the U.S. and Cuba during the Hoover administration on the eve of the New Deal.
  • During the Hoover administration in the early 1930s, the Platt Amendment continued to shape the U.S.-Cuba relationship. The amendment gave the U.S. significant leverage over Cuba's political and economic affairs, which became a point of contention as the Great Depression unfolded. Cuba's economic struggles and desire for greater autonomy clashed with the U.S.'s imperialist policies embodied in the Platt Amendment. This set the stage for the amendment's eventual repeal in 1934, marking a shift in U.S.-Cuba relations as the New Deal era began.
• Evaluate the long-term consequences of the Platt Amendment on U.S. foreign policy and its relationships with Latin American countries.
  • The Platt Amendment had lasting implications for U.S. foreign policy and its relationships with Latin American nations. By establishing the U.S. as an imperial power with the ability to intervene in Cuban affairs, the amendment set a precedent for American interventionism in the region. This fueled resentment and mistrust among Latin American countries, who viewed the U.S. as an overbearing hegemon seeking to maintain its influence. The legacy of the Platt Amendment contributed to the U.S.'s strained relationships with many Latin American states in the 20th century, as they pushed back against perceived American imperialism and demanded greater autonomy and self-determination.

Related terms

Spanish-American War: The 1898 conflict between the United States and Spain that resulted in U.S. acquisition of territories including Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines.

Imperialism:

The policy of a country expanding its power and influence through the acquisition of territories or the establishment of economic and political hegemony over other countries.

Monroe Doctrine:

The foreign policy principle established by President James Monroe in 1823, which stated that further efforts by European nations to colonize or interfere with states in the Americas would be viewed as acts of aggression requiring U.S. intervention.