Platt Amendment

1901 United States law on Cuban relations

War & ConflictPolitics & Government
Platt Amendment
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Overview

What happened

1902: Cuba declares independence in Havana, with Tomás Estrada Palma as its first president, after decades of struggle and a death toll of over 20,000

Date

May 20, 1902

Location

Havana, Cuba

Key people

Tomás Estrada Palma, José Martí

Why it matters

This article provides a detailed and nuanced account of the Cuban independence movement, highlighting the complex and often contradictory nature of the event.

What was Platt Amendment?

The Platt Amendment was United States legislation enacted as part of the Army Appropriations Act of 1901 that defined the relationship between the United States and Cuba following the Spanish–American War. It stipulated seven conditions for the withdrawal of United States troops remaining in Cuba at the end of the Spanish–American War, and an eighth condition that Cuba sign a treaty accepting these seven conditions. It helped to define the terms of Cuba–United States relations. On June 12, 1901, the Cuban Constitutional Assembly approved the Platt Amendment, which had been proposed by the United States of America. The document came with a withdrawal of U.S troops from Cuba after the Spanish-American War. It amended its constitution to contain, word for word, the seven applicable demands of the Platt Amendment.

Senator Orville H. Platt, creator of the Platt Amendment
Senator Orville H. Platt, creator of the Platt Amendment
Related books
Cuba under the Platt Amendment 1902-1934 Louis A. Pérez · 1986 Cuba Under the Platt Amendment, 1902-1934 (Pitt Latin American Series) cover Cuba Under the Platt Amendment, 1902-1934 (Pitt Latin American Series) Louis A. Perez · 1986 The origins of the Platt Amendment John Frank Wood · 1962 Translation of the proposed constitution for Cuba, the official acceptance of the Platt amendment, and the electoral law Cuba · 1901 The reaction of American businessmen and diplomats to the Cuban Revolution of 1933 and to the abrogation of the Platt Amendment Fritz William Berggren · 1993
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Background and consequences

On May 22, 1903, Cuba entered into a treaty with the United States to make the same required seven pledges: the Cuban–American Treaty of Relations of 1903. Two of the seven pledges were to allow the United States to intervene unilaterally in Cuban affairs, and a pledge to lease land to the United States for naval bases on the island.

Cartoon protesting the Amendment
Cartoon protesting the Amendment
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Related on thisDay

Cuba Declares Independence — May 20, 1902

1902: Cuba declares independence in Havana, with Tomás Estrada Palma as its first president, after decades of struggle and a death toll of over 20,000

Use the dated article for the day-specific account; use these references to check the event record and explore its wider historical context.

Date article: Cuba Declares Independence — May 20, 1902Wikipedia source
Cite this page
MLA

“Platt Amendment.” thisDay, thisday.info/history/platt-amendment/. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

APA

Platt Amendment. (n.d.). thisDay. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://thisday.info/history/platt-amendment/

Chicago

“Platt Amendment.” thisDay. Accessed October 19, 2026. https://thisday.info/history/platt-amendment/.

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