Final answer:
Senator Lodge justified American involvement in Cuba based on the inspiration of Cuba Libre, American economic interests, and the enforcement of the Monroe Doctrine. The Platt Amendment also influenced the US-Cuban relationship by shaping future interactions between the two nations.
Step-by-step explanation:
Senator Henry Cabot Lodge provided several reasons to justify American involvement in Cuba, particularly during the Cuban War of Independence and subsequent American influence in Cuban affairs. Here are three specific reasons that were highlighted:
- The concept of Cuba Libre, which echoed America's own quest for independence, symbolized a collective desire to free Cuba from European colonialism, in this case from Spain.
- American economic interests, particularly the desire of US businesses to invest in Cuban agriculture, played a significant role in the decision to support Cuban independence.
- The enforcement of the Monroe Doctrine necessitated Spain's exit from the Caribbean, reinforcing the U.S. stance against European colonialism in the Western Hemisphere and the protection of US strategic interests.
Additionally, the inhumane tactics used by Spanish forces against Cuban rebels further motivated American intervention on humanitarian grounds. The Platt Amendment, which followed the Spanish-American War, embedded within the Cuban Constitution, stipulated conditions that shaped the US-Cuban relationship, including the lease of Guantanamo Bay to the United States.