Platt Amendment: Main Idea
Platt Amendment: Main Idea
America Sets Cuba's Rules
In this story, Cuba is the kid discovering their new independence and America is the strict parent setting the rules. The U.S. just kicked Spain out of Cuba, but America wanted to keep a tight grip on the island's people and precious, precious sugar and coal resources.
The Platt Amendment was a set of seven rules that Cuba was forced to follow, and most of the rules have to do with Cuba being closely watched and influenced by the U.S.
It's independence…but it's independence with seven very thick strings attached.
Questions
- How independent really was Cuba, with the restrictions of the Platt Amendment being enforced by the U.S.?
- Did the U.S. create the Platt Amendment to genuinely help Cuba get on its newly independent feet, or was it to control the country's people and resources? Could it be both?
- What right did the U.S. have to set rules and restrictions for Cuba, considering Cuba's history of colonization and oppression?
- Why might the U.S. be so concerned with a small island such as Cuba when it was dealing with much bigger issues on the world stage?
Chew On This
America saw a bit of itself in scrappy, rebellious Cuba, and created the Platt Amendment in order to protect and guide Cuba in the scary new world of independence.
America valued Cuba solely for its resources and its close location, and created the Platt Amendment in order to take advantage of the newly independent nation.
Quotes
Quote #1
[…] the President is hereby authorized to "leave the government and control of the island of Cuba to its people" so soon as […] a constitution which […] shall define the future relations of the United States with Cuba, substantially as follows. (Intro)
Ahhh: the classic "freedom for a price" statement.
The U.S. is telling Cuba that they can govern themselves, but only if they follow the rules that the U.S. sets. Notice that it says the President is "authorized" to let Cuba rule itself. Doesn't that sound a bit strange? As though the U.S. is giving up its right to control Cuba?
This wording is crafty, because it makes it sound as though the U.S. is doing Cuba a great favor, even though they are about to dump seven restrictions on the tiny island nation. Clever Congress.
Quote #2
That the government of Cuba shall never enter into any treaty or other compact with any foreign power or powers which will impair or tend to impair the independence of Cuba […] (I)
There are seven rules in the Platt Amendment and this is the first. Cuba can't make any deals with other countries (well, other countries besides America, of course). This is another clever statement by Congress, because by using phrases like "impair the independence of Cuba," it seems like the U.S. is trying to protect the island from bullies who might take advantage of the newly independent nation.
But is the U.S. trying to protect them or be the only one who can take advantage of them? Hmm…
Quote #3
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 […] (III)
Notice the heavily patriotic words "life, property, and individual liberty." Straight out of America's Declaration of Independence, right? Statements like this suggest that America sees similarities in Cuba and wants to protect the people of Cuba. And that may certainly be the case. But keep in mind the fact that this quote says the U.S. can get involved in Cuban business when it sees fit…that leaves the door pretty wide open.
Quote #4
That the government of Cuba will execute […] the plans already devised or other plans to be mutually agreed upon, for the sanitation of the cities of the island, to the end that a recurrence of epidemic and infectious diseases may be prevented […] (V)
Sanitation of cities? That seems a bit strange to be in the Platt Amendment, which is mostly about U.S. control of Cuban land and resources. But think about it—there are a lot of tropical diseases in the islands of the Caribbean, and if the U.S. is doing business with Cuba (sugar and coal are where the money's at), they definitely wouldn't want those diseases hopping on to America's shores.
Quote #5
That to enable the United States to maintain the independence of Cuba, and to protect the people thereof, as well as for its own defense, the government of Cuba will sell or lease to the United States lands necessary for coaling or naval stations at certain specified points to be agreed upon with the President of the United States. (VII)
Aha, now we see a serious example of U.S. control over the island of Cuba. Whenever the President wants, he can require Cuba to sell or rent land to the U.S. for military bases or collecting resources. This is a pretty vague statement, and Congress probably meant it to be. It leaves the door wide open for American involvement in the island, which must have felt pretty invasive to Cuba.