The Platt Amendment made Cuba a U.S. protectorate and allowed a U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay.

The Platt Amendment made Cuba a U.S. protectorate and allowed a U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay.

• A. Guaranteed Cuban Independence With No U.S. Involvement
• B. Made Cuba a Protectorate of the U.S. and Allowed a Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay
• C. Annexed Cuba as a U.S. State
• D. Banned U.S. Involvement in Cuban Affairs

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is understanding how the Platt Amendment shaped Cuba’s relationship with the United States after the Spanish–American War. This amendment established a protectorate-like role for the U.S. by allowing intervention in Cuban affairs to maintain independence, order, and property, and by permitting a U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay. In practice, that meant Cuba’s sovereignty was limited and heavily influenced by U.S. decisions, with the United States able to step in when it saw fit and to keep a strategic military presence on Cuban soil. This is why the statement describing Cuba as a U.S. protectorate and allowing a naval base accurately reflects the effect of the Platt Amendment. The other scenarios—complete independence with no U.S. involvement, annexation as a U.S. state, or a ban on U.S. involvement—do not describe what happened.

The main idea here is understanding how the Platt Amendment shaped Cuba’s relationship with the United States after the Spanish–American War. This amendment established a protectorate-like role for the U.S. by allowing intervention in Cuban affairs to maintain independence, order, and property, and by permitting a U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay. In practice, that meant Cuba’s sovereignty was limited and heavily influenced by U.S. decisions, with the United States able to step in when it saw fit and to keep a strategic military presence on Cuban soil. This is why the statement describing Cuba as a U.S. protectorate and allowing a naval base accurately reflects the effect of the Platt Amendment. The other scenarios—complete independence with no U.S. involvement, annexation as a U.S. state, or a ban on U.S. involvement—do not describe what happened.