Answer :
Final answer:
The Platt Amendment contradicted the spirit of the Teller Amendment and the ostensible altruistic reasons for the United States' intervention in Cuba by giving the U.S. control over much of Cuba's foreign policy and a lease for Guantanamo Bay.
Explanation:
The Platt Amendment was legislation from 1901 that significantly altered the earlier Teller Amendment. This new amendment gave the United States substantial control over Cuba's foreign policy and military alliances post the Spanish-American War. The Teller Amendment, which was part of the declaration of war against Spain, explicitly stated that the United States could not annex Cuba and was included to allay fears of American imperialism. However, the Platt Amendment seemed to contradict this by allowing the United States to intervene in Cuban affairs and requiring Cuba to lease Guantanamo Bay for a naval base, which suggested more of an imperialist approach than one simply defending Cuban independence.
Initially, the goal of the American intervention in Cuba was characterized by a desire to assist Cubans in their struggle for independence from Spain, an endeavor epitomized by the Teller Amendment's promise. Yet, the comprehensive powers granted to the U.S. by the Platt Amendment indicate that the U.S. actions in Cuba, following the Spanish-American War, did conflict with the spirit of the Teller Amendment. The provisions of the Platt Amendment overshadows the ostensible altruistic intentions, exposing the United States' own strategic interests in Cuba and the broader Caribbean region.
