What was the Platt Amendment?

The Republic of Cuba was proclaimed on 20 May 1902 and the Government was handed over to its first president, Tomás Estrada Palma.

Although the U.S. forces withdrew from Cuba, the Americans retained almost total control over the Island. As a precondition to Cuba’s independence the US had demanded that the Platt Amendment be approved fully and without changes by the Cuban Constituent Assembly as an appendix to the new constitution. Under this amendment the US kept the right to intervene in Cuban domestic affairs "to preserve its independence".

The amendment also allowed the United States to establish a naval base at the mouth of the Guantánamo Bay which they occupy to this day.

Please, visit our Authentic Cuba Travel®- History page for further information.