Question

Many American businesspeople were nervous about the political situation in Cuba in the late 1800s because:

A) They shipped most of their goods through Cuban ports.
B) They had millions of dollars invested in Cuban sugar plantations.
C) They sold most of their products to wealthy Cubans.
D) They hired most of their workers from Cuba.

Answer 1

Many American businesspeople were concerned about Cuba in the late 1800s because they had invested heavily in the Cuban sugar industry, which was intertwined with the U.S. economy and seen as crucial to American foreign policy interests.

Step-by-step explanation:

Many American businesspeople were nervous about the political situation in Cuba in the late 1800s because B) they had millions of dollars invested in Cuban sugar plantations.

The economic interconnectedness between the U.S. and Cuba was significant due to Cuba's reliance on U.S. markets for its sugar and tobacco, as well as American investments in Cuban sugar and tobacco plantations, mining operations, and other business properties.

When the U.S. Congress passed a tariff in 1894 that negatively impacted Cuban sugar, it adversely affected both the Cuban economy and American business interests.

Furthermore, the strategic location of Cuba at the entrance to the Gulf of Mexico and its tropical climate made it a focal point in American foreign policy, as many policymakers saw Cuba as key to American prosperity and security.