Cuba’s independence was recognized after the US declared war against Spainin 1898. The Teller Amendment was passed, which meant that the UShad no intentions of taking over any part of Cuba.When the treaty of Paris ended the USand Spain war,it further guaranteed Cuba’sindependence that its nationalist leaders had been asking for years.
Cuba was still occupied by American troops when the war ended, even though it was officially independent. The Cuban patriot who led the movement for independencefrom Spain, JoseMarti, feared that the United Stateswould replace Spainand the dominate Cuban politics. And in some ways, Jose was right. Under Americanoccupation, the same officials who had served Spainremained in office. The Cubans that protested this policy were sent to prisonor were exiled, or banished.
Jose Marti.
The American military government provided food and clothing for thousands of families, organized elementary schools, and helped farmers put land back intocultivation. The military gov’ even helped eliminate yellow fever through theimprovement of sanitation, which is a disease that killed hundreds of Cubanseach year.
A newly formed Cuban government wrote a constitution for an independent Cuba. The constitution did not specify the relationship between Cubaand the United States.In 1901, the US asked that Cuba add several provisions to its constitution,known as the Platt Amendment stating that Cuba could not make treaties thatmight limit its independence or permit a foreign power to control part of itsterritory, the US reserved the right to intervene in Cuba, Cuba was not allowedto go into debt, and the US could buy or lease land on the island for naval stationsand refueling stations. The United Statesmade it clear that they would not withdraw until Cubaadopted the Platt Amendment. A torchlight procession marched on the residenceof Governor-General Leonard Wood in protest. Some protestors even called for areturn to arms to defend their national honor against this American insult. Butthe USgovernment stayed firm, and then the Cubans finally ratified the newconstitution. 1903 the Platt Amendment became part of a treaty between thenations and it remained there for 31 years. Under the terms of the treaty, Cubabecame a USprotectorate, a country whose affairs are partially controlled by a strongerpower.
The main reason why the United States had to maintain a strong political presence in Cubawas to protect American businesses that had invested in the island’s tobacco,sugar and mining industries as well as railroads and public utilities. In yearsto come, the USwould intervene time and again in the affairs of other nations in the WesternHemisphere.
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