In the political atmosphere in the U.S. growing out of the Cuban struggle for independence , and following on the February 15 , 1898 , sinking of the USS '' Maine '' in Havana harbor President William McKinley , on 11 April 1898 , asked the Congress , ... to authorize and empower the President to take measures to secure a full and final termination of hostilities between the government of Spain and the people of Cuba , and to ensure in the island the establishment of a stable government , capable of maintaining order and observing its international obligations , ensuring peace and tranquillity and the security of its citizens as well as our own , and to use the military and naval forces of the United States as may be necessary for these purposes . Congress debated a joint resolution in response to the president 's request for a week . In near-final form , its three parts constituted : Senator Henry M. Teller , a Republican from Colorado ( who had switched parties after leading a revolt against the dominant gold-favoring party wing at the 1896 Republican National Convention ) proposed the amendment to ensure that the United States would not establish permanent control over Cuba following the cessation of hostilities with Spain . The Republican McKinley administration would not recognize belligerency or independence as it was unsure of the form an insurgency government might take . Without recognizing some government in Cuba , Congressmen feared McKinley was simply priming the island for annexation . The Teller clause quelled any anxiety of annexation by stating that the United States ... hereby disclaims any disposition of intention to exercise sovereignty , jurisdiction , or control over said island except for pacification thereof , and asserts its determination , when that is accomplished , to leave the government and control of the island to its people . The proposed amendment gained support from several forces : ... those who opposed annexing territory containing large numbers of blacks and Catholics , those who sincerely supported Cuban independence , and representatives of the domestic sugar business , including sponsor Senator Henry Teller of Colorado , who feared Cuban competition . ( A significant import tariff on foreign sugar would be removed should Cuba be annexed . ) The Senate passed the amendment , 42 to 35 , on April 19 , 1898 , and the House concurred the same day , 311 to 6 . President McKinley signed the joint resolution on April 20 , 1898 , and the ultimatum was forwarded to Spain
1896 Republican National Convention
1896 Republican National Convention
Teller Amendment