Final answer:
Louis Perez would have addressed the transformation from the Teller Amendment's commitment to Cuban independence post-Spanish-American War to the Platt Amendment's control over Cuba's foreign policy and the establishment of Guantanamo Bay as a U.S. military base.
Step-by-step explanation:
Historian Louis Perez likely discussed the Teller Amendment in the context of its significance during and after the Spanish-American War. The Teller Amendment, which was part of the original declaration of war by the United States, explicitly stated that the U.S. could not annex Cuba and was only interested in assisting Cuba to secure independence from Spain. However, the subsequent Platt Amendment drastically altered this promise by giving the United States significant control over Cuba's foreign policy and establishing a U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay.
The transformation from the Teller Amendment's disavowment of imperialistic ambitions to the Platt Amendment's strategic control reflects the evolving American foreign policy during that period. Cuban independence was initially guaranteed, subject to the non-annexation condition of the Teller Amendment. Yet, Congress later modified this with the Platt Amendment, effectively enabling the United States to influence many aspects of Cuban sovereignty and marking a departure from the Teller Amendment's initial intentions.