In the Platt Amendment, rules are power. America is exercising control over Cuba, dictating what their government can or can't do, and even claiming possession over certain parts of Cuba's territory. The entire thing is about power.
The real question is, to what end? To help Cuba? To exploit Cuba for American gain? These questions do not have clear answers. Because of this lack of clear answers, the Platt Amendment is a bit strange in history. It could have been an example of America being a bully, or of America being a protective parent. There are certainly people who could argue either side of this power theme.
Questions About Power
- Did America create the Platt Amendment to be a bully, or be a protector?
- Was Cuba high on America's priority list concerning power grabs in the early 1900s, or was the island more a nuisance that needed to be kept in check?
- How did American citizens view their own country's motives when the Platt Amendment was created?
- Is power over another country something to be proud of, or something to be ashamed of? And is there a difference today compared to a hundred years ago when this Amendment was created?
Chew on This
Many in Congress were bitter that Cuba could not be legally taken over, so they created the Platt Amendment to show Cuba who was boss.
Many in Congress pitied Cuba, so they created the Platt Amendment to help Cuba gain a sense of its own power.