Excerpt from the Platt Amendment, 1903
I. That the government of Cuba shall never enter into any treaty or other compact with any foreign power or powers which will impair or tend to impair the independence of Cuba, nor in any manner authorize or permit any foreign power or powers to obtain by colonization or for military or naval purposes or otherwise, lodgement in or control over any portion of said island. . . .
III. That the government of Cuba consents that the United States may exercise the right to intervene for the preservation of Cuban independence, the maintenance of a government adequate for the protection of life, property, and individual liberty, and for discharging the obligations with respect to Cuba imposed by the treaty of Paris on the United States, now to be assumed and undertaken by the government of Cuba.
IV. That all Acts of the United States in Cuba during its military occupancy thereof are ratified and validated, and all lawful rights acquired thereunder shall be maintained and protected.
VII. That to enable the United States to maintain the independence of Cuba, and to protect the people thereof, as well as for its own defense, the government of Cuba will sell or lease to the United States lands necessary for coaling or naval stations at certain specified points to be agreed upon with the President of the United States.
Use the excerpt to answer the question.
With what argument implied in the amendment would Americans in support of imperialism MOST LIKELY agree?
A.
The United States must extend its influence to protect its own interests and security.
B.
The United States cannot compete against other foreign powers without its own colonies.
C.
The United States has a moral obligation to promote the spread of democratic government.
D.
The United States has a responsibility to its less powerful neighbors to assist with their defense.
A. The United States must extend its influence to protect its own interests and security.
To answer this question, we need to analyze the implied argument in the excerpt from the Platt Amendment.
The excerpt states that "the government of Cuba consents that the United States may exercise the right to intervene for the preservation of Cuban independence, the maintenance of a government adequate for the protection of life, property, and individual liberty." This indicates that the United States believed it had a responsibility to intervene in Cuba to protect its independence and ensure a stable government.
With this argument in mind, the MOST LIKELY answer would be:
D. The United States has a responsibility to its less powerful neighbors to assist with their defense.
This answer aligns with the implied argument in the excerpt, suggesting that the United States believed it was responsible for helping to defend and protect its neighbors, such as Cuba.
The implied argument in the amendment that Americans in support of imperialism would most likely agree with is:
A. The United States must extend its influence to protect its own interests and security.
This is evident in the excerpt through provisions such as the right to intervene for the preservation of Cuban independence and the maintenance of a government adequate for the protection of life, property, and individual liberty. Additionally, the amendment allows the United States to maintain coaling or naval stations in Cuba for its own defense. These actions suggest that the United States is seeking to protect its own interests and security by extending its influence.