We covered in class the Platt Amendment and Teller Amendment but I was still a little confused. I decided to learn more about the two.
The Teller Amendment was introduced in 1898. It was added to the declaration of war against Spain. In short, it promised that after the War, they would leave Cuba and allow them to rule themselves. Basically, they weren't trying to establish Cuba as an American colony. It said the US, "hereby disclaims any disposition of intention to exercise sovereignty, jurisdiction, or control over said island except for pacification thereof, and asserts its determination, when that is accomplished, to leave the government and control of the island to its people"
The Platt Amendment was passed in 1901. It came about as a way to withdraw military troops from Cuba and allow for the Cuban government and its own people to take charge. Part of the amendment included 8 conditions that Cuba would agree to so that the US would take its troops out. Cuba was not allowed to sign agreements that would allow other countries, besides the US, from using the island for military purposes. The United States also added that they could intervene in Cuba to manage "a government adequate for the protection of life, property, and individual liberty" Cuba also had to give up their claim to the Isle of Pines (Isla de la Juventud) and upgrade sanitation on the island. Another large part was that Cuba had to allow the US to use them, by buying or renting land, as a naval base and for mining coal. The Platt Amendment allowed the US to have a say in Cuba without directly going against the Teller Amendment. This treaty was eventually agreed to by Cuba after much pressure, despite the fact that they knew they would lose some of their sovereignty. However, with a treaty like this, Cuba's sugar trade would have access to the full US market. The Platt Amendment was cancelled in 1934.
I hope that this gave you more insight into the laws passed around the Spanish-American War. Do you think that the Platt Amendment was fair to the Cubans?
I don't think that the Platt Amendment was fair, because even after America had declared Cuba an independent nation and that it would not exercise control over it, yet only a few years later it passed this amendment which allowed for the US to intervene in government, and for the US to use them as a base. The US contradicted themselves and it was not justified.
ReplyDeleteThe Platt Amendment was a passive way of taking control of Cuba and getting benefits a nation would normally gain from a territory they had. It was a way for the U.S government to say "Cuba has full control, expect when we want to tell them what to do", which is not control at all. This treaty put U.S interests above the interests of the nation and its people. Cuba was used as a naval base a coal mine through this and it basically contradicted the Teller Amendment.
ReplyDeleteThis gave great insight and helpful information about these two amendments. To add onto the Platt Amendment, it was introduced by Senator Orville Platt. Within the amendment, the main purpose of it was to address the problem of the United States expanding into other territory. The Platt amendment solved the Teller amendment by making Cuba a US protected/controlled state.
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