Platt Amendment: Violation Of Cuban Sovereignty

what law did the platt amendment break

The Platt Amendment was an addition to the earlier Teller Amendment, which had promised Cuban independence following the Spanish-American War. The Platt Amendment, however, established the terms of Cuba-US relations, including eight conditions for the withdrawal of US troops from Cuba, which limited Cuba's independence and treaty-making powers, and allowed the US to intervene in Cuban affairs and establish a naval base at Guantanamo Bay. The Amendment was ratified by the US in March 1901 and by Cuba in 1903. It remained in force until 1934 when it was repealed as part of Franklin D. Roosevelt's Good Neighbor policy toward Latin America.

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The Platt Amendment violated the spirit of the Teller Amendment

The Platt Amendment, an amendment to a U.S. army appropriations bill, established the terms under which the United States would end its military occupation of Cuba and "leave the government and control of the island of Cuba to its people." The amendment was named after Senator Orville Platt of Connecticut, who presented it. However, it was largely drafted by Secretary of War Elihu Root.

The Platt Amendment laid down eight conditions to which the Cuban Government had to agree before the withdrawal of U.S. forces and the transfer of sovereignty could begin. These conditions included prohibiting the Cuban government from entering into any international treaty that would compromise Cuban independence or allow foreign powers to use the island for military purposes. The United States also reserved the right to intervene in Cuban affairs to defend Cuban independence and maintain "a government adequate for the protection of life, property, and individual liberty."

The Teller Amendment, proposed by Senator Henry M. Teller of Colorado in April 1898, was an amendment to the U.S. declaration of war against Spain. It stated that the United States "disclaims any disposition of intention to exercise sovereignty, jurisdiction, or control over [Cuba] 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 Teller Amendment committed the U.S. government to granting Cuba its independence following the removal of Spanish forces.

While the Platt Amendment paid lip service to the idea of Cuban independence, it violated the spirit of the Teller Amendment by significantly limiting Cuban sovereignty. The Platt Amendment allowed the United States to intervene in Cuban affairs, lease or buy lands for naval bases (such as Guantánamo Bay), and impose sanitation programs on the island. It also restricted Cuba's ability to negotiate treaties and incur debt. In essence, the Platt Amendment made Cuba a protectorate of the United States, which contradicted the Teller Amendment's commitment to granting Cuba full independence.

The Cuban delegates to the Constitutional Convention of 1900 recognized that the Platt Amendment infringed on their sovereignty and initially refused to include it in their constitution. However, they eventually succumbed to American pressure and ratified the amendment in June 1901. The Platt Amendment remained in force until 1934 when it was repealed as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Good Neighbor policy toward Latin America.

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The Platt Amendment was a rider attached to the Army Appropriations Bill

The Platt Amendment stipulated eight conditions that the Cuban government had to agree to before the US would end its military occupation of the island. These conditions included:

  • Preventing Cuba from entering into any international treaties that would compromise its independence or allow foreign powers to use the island for military purposes.
  • Allowing the US to intervene in Cuban affairs to defend Cuban independence and maintain "a government adequate for the protection of life, property, and individual liberty."
  • Requiring Cuba to implement plans to improve sanitary conditions on the island.
  • Relinquishing Cuban claims on the Isle of Pines (now known as the Isla de la Juventud).
  • Agreeing to sell or lease territory to the US for coaling and naval stations (leading to the perpetual lease of Guantánamo Bay).
  • Concluding a treaty with the US to make the Platt Amendment legally binding.

The Platt Amendment was incorporated into the Cuban Constitution, despite the Cubans' initial reluctance, as they viewed it as an infringement on their sovereignty. The US also pressured Cuba to include the terms of the Amendment in its constitution by promising a trade treaty that would guarantee Cuban sugar exports access to the US market.

The Amendment shaped fundamental Cuban-US relations until 1934 when rising Cuban nationalism and widespread criticism led to its repeal as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Good Neighbor policy toward Latin America. However, the US retained its lease on Guantánamo Bay, where a naval base remains to this day.

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The Platt Amendment was incorporated into the Cuban Constitution

The Platt Amendment laid out eight conditions that the Cuban Government had to agree to before the withdrawal of U.S. forces. These conditions included: prohibiting the Cuban Government from entering into any international treaty that would compromise Cuban independence or allow foreign powers to use the island for military purposes; reserving the right for the U.S. to intervene in Cuban affairs to defend Cuban independence and maintain a stable government; requiring the Cuban Government to implement plans to improve sanitary conditions on the island; and agreeing to relinquish claims on the Isle of Pines (now Isla de la Juventud) and sell or lease territory for U.S. coaling and naval stations (which led to the perpetual lease of Guantanamo Bay).

The U.S. pressured Cuba to incorporate the Platt Amendment into its constitution, and while the Cuban delegates initially refused, they eventually succumbed, ratifying it on June 12, 1901, by a vote of 16 to 11. This was due to the U.S. promising a trade treaty that would guarantee Cuban sugar exports access to the U.S. market. The Platt Amendment remained in force until 1934 when both sides agreed to cancel the treaties, although the U.S. retained its lease on Guantanamo Bay.

The Platt Amendment was a significant infringement on Cuban sovereignty and contributed to the erosion of individual rights in Cuba, particularly for Afro-Cubans and women. It also had negative economic consequences, with huge American investment in sugar leading to land concentration, low wages, and limited industrialization.

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The Platt Amendment was a treaty between the US and Cuba

The Platt Amendment was proposed by Senator Orville Platt of Connecticut and largely drafted by Secretary of War Elihu Root. It was approved by the US Congress as an amendment to the Army Appropriations Act of 1901. The Amendment laid out eight conditions that the Cuban government had to agree to before the US would withdraw its troops and transfer sovereignty. These conditions included:

  • Prohibiting the Cuban government from entering into any international treaties that would compromise Cuban independence or allow foreign powers to use the island for military purposes.
  • Reserving the right for the US to intervene in Cuban affairs to defend Cuban independence and maintain "a government adequate for the protection of life, property, and individual liberty".
  • Requiring the Cuban government to implement plans to improve sanitary conditions on the island.
  • Relinquishing Cuban claims on the Isle of Pines.
  • Agreeing to sell or lease territory to the US for coaling and naval stations, which ultimately led to the perpetual lease of Guantanamo Bay by the US.
  • Requiring the Cuban government to conclude a treaty with the US that would make the Platt Amendment legally binding and incorporate its terms into the Cuban constitution.

The Platt Amendment was ratified by the Cuban Constitutional Convention on June 12, 1901, and remained in force until 1934 when both sides agreed to cancel the treaties that enforced it as part of US President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Good Neighbor policy toward Latin America.

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The Platt Amendment was a violation of Article 52 of the 1969 Vienna Convention

The Platt Amendment laid down eight conditions to which the Cuban government had to agree before the withdrawal of US forces and the transfer of sovereignty could begin. These conditions included prohibiting the Cuban government from entering into any international treaty that would compromise Cuban independence or allow foreign powers to use the island for military purposes. The US also reserved the right to intervene in Cuban affairs to defend Cuban independence and to maintain "a government adequate for the protection of life, property, and individual liberty".

The Platt Amendment was drafted largely by Secretary of War Elihu Root and presented to the Senate by Senator Orville Platt of Connecticut. It was incorporated into the Cuban Constitution in 1901, and the US troops withdrew from Cuba in 1902. The Amendment remained in force until 1934 when both sides agreed to cancel the treaties that enforced it.

Despite the Amendment's stated goal of protecting Cuban independence, it significantly limited Cuba's sovereignty and was considered by many Cubans as an infringement of their independence. The long-term lease of Guantanamo Bay Naval Base continues to be a source of tension between the two countries, with the Cuban government denouncing the treaty as a violation of Article 52 of the 1969 Vienna Convention.

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Frequently asked questions

The Platt Amendment was an addition to the earlier Teller Amendment, which had previously limited US involvement in Cuba. It was enacted as part of the Army Appropriations Act of 1901 and defined the relationship between the US and Cuba following the Spanish-American War.

The Platt Amendment stipulated seven conditions for the withdrawal of US troops from Cuba, and an eighth condition that Cuba sign a treaty accepting these seven conditions. These included:

- Cuba would not transfer Cuban land to any power other than the US.

- Cuba's right to negotiate treaties was limited.

- Rights to a naval base in Cuba (Guantánamo Bay) were ceded to the US.

- The US could intervene in Cuba "for the preservation of Cuban independence".

The Platt Amendment was criticised for violating the spirit of the Teller Amendment, which stated that the US would not establish permanent control over Cuba. The Platt Amendment, on the other hand, ensured US control over Cuba's economic, political, and security interests.

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